215 



5og. Congestion of the Lungs. — This is a very common term- 

 ination of many diseases, and is, in some cases, very easily produced. 

 For example, when an animal is suffering from a slight cold, with 

 relaxed system, a sudden chill will induce congestion of the lungs, and 

 kill the animal in a few hours. On account of its running its course 

 so rapidly, in many cases, there is little time to combat the 

 disease. It is often, in fact, worse to handle than inflammation of 

 the lungs. The difference between congestion and inflmnmation is, 

 that in the former, the blood stagnates in the tissues of the lungs 

 like water in a sponge, but there is no visible structural change of the 

 part ; for want of tone, the blood accumulates, giving the lungs a 

 deep brownish-black appea^rance. Yet, when they are put into water, 

 they do not sink to the bottom, but, being loaded with blood, sink just 

 below the surface — water-logged, as it were. Inflammation, on the 

 other hand, changes the structure. The lungs become solid, similar in 

 appearance to the liver, and, when put into water, sink to the bottom 

 like lead, the air-cells bemg completely blocked up by inflammatory 

 products; whereas, in congestion, they were merely pressed and not 

 interfered with by the congested vessels. Congestion is, at times, 

 readily induced, (especially in a badly-conditioned horse), by a 

 heavy, fast run with hounds, when the animal has been galloped 

 to a standstill. When the animal is thus affected, the head is 

 extended, the nostrils dilated, the breathing is short, quick, and 

 panting, the legs are spread wide apart, and the muscles of the body 

 and hmbs are all in a quiver. The rider having dismounted, the 

 girths should be slackened, and the horse's head turned to the wind ; 

 then, after it has settled down a little, the contents of the horseman's 

 flask, or that of his companions should be given, with an equal 

 quantity of water ; the patient should next be carefully led to the 

 nearest box, when four drachms carbonate of ammonia made into a 

 ball, with a little linseed meal and water should be given at once, and 

 the body sheeted, and legs bandaged, as detailed in pav. 507. 



510. In acute congestion, if early on the scene, I know of no better 

 or quicker relief than that obtained by taking three or four quarts of 

 blood from the jugular vein ; this takes off the pressure, allows freedom 



