BRO.XCHITIS 139 



2. Acute Catarrh of the Smaller Bronchia ; Bronchitis Capillaris ; Bron- 

 chiolitis. — When the small bronchia are affected, these sounds are much 

 more decided, and in this condition there is high fever and general disturb- 

 ance of all the functions, and also a marked difficulty in respiration, and 

 the disease takes a much more serious course, particularly in young dogs 

 affected with distemper. One prominent symptom in the dog is the in- 

 flation of the cheeks with each expiration. Any pressure on the walls of 

 the chest will immediately produce a fit of coughing. The cough is first 

 dull and weak, and as the disease increases it becomes looser and easier, 

 the vesicular sounds being very wheezy. Capillary bronchitis in young 

 animals is very apt to terminate in catarrhal pneumonia, but even if this 

 grave complication does not occur, it is still a very dangerous disease and 

 is apt to prove fatal. The course of the disease is never less than two 

 weeks, and may often last several weeks before the animal makes a 

 recovery. 



This disease, or the results of it, is what is generally termed asthma, 

 so often seen in old, well-cared-for dogs. The disease is characterized by a 

 certain amount of difficulty in respiration, which is increased by running 

 or ]3y any excitement, and is generally accompanied by a severe attack of 

 coughing, which in severe cases ends with every evidence of choking or 

 even vomiting. The cough is generally moist, and may be accompanied 

 by. a certain amount of rattling. In the majority of cases, where the 

 disease is not far advanced, the animals enjoy good health and rarely ex- 

 hibit any fever. In old cases, the expired air may be bad-smelling or f a?tid. 



Percussion gives no definite results. Auscultation gives sounds that 

 depend on the number and size of the diseased bronchia and the character 

 •of the mucus accumulated in them. We may find cither moist or rat- 

 tling sounds, which vary in character, and a heightened vesicular respi- 

 ration or else an indistinct mucous sound. 



Therapeutics of Tracheal and Bronchial Catarrh. — Keep the animal in 

 a moderately warm ])ut well ventilated place, where it is dry and free from 

 draughts. In the early stages of the disease give a mild expectorant, 

 such as syrup of tolu or wild cherry. Local inhalation of vaporized drugs 

 is not of much use, as very little of the drug is carried into the bronchial 

 tubes, especially the small ones. We may administer medicinal vapors by 

 putting a teaspoonful of tincture of benzoin, if the expressed air is foetid, 

 or a weak solution of creolin, lysol, or carbolic acid in a quart of boiling 

 water, and hold it so that the animal will inhale the steam, or a Priessnitz 

 compress may be put around the thorax; this should be taken off and 

 adjusted every three or four hours. 



In the chronic cases, we generally get good results from the adminis- 

 tration of expectorants, such as apomorphia, ipecacuanha, and spirits 

 of mindererus; and where there is a violent cough, add narcotics, such 



