124 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



This form of broncliitls is more frequent than the former ; and 

 though severe, and attended with danger, is yet not so fatal as 

 that "before described. In the latter kind the inflammatory 

 action in great measure expends itself in the increased secretion 

 of mucus ; whilst in the former description the intensity of the 

 inflannnation suppresses all secretion, and quickly passes on to a 

 more malignant and fatal termination. 



Besides the two forms of bronchitis just described, we have 

 often a milder description, termed sub-acute, in which the 

 symptoms of the latter kind are present, but altogether in a 

 milder form ; the pulse is less frequent, the cough less severe, 

 the appetite not so imjiaired ; and yet these symptoms may in- 

 sidiously creep on, until many of the bronchial tubes and air 

 cells are destroyed by a change of structure, the capacity of the 

 lungs impaired, and the animal becomes thick-winded. 



This alteration of structure may result from bronchitis, either 

 in its acute or sub-acute form. 



Occasionally bronchitis degenerates into what is called a 

 chronic state ; that is, the inflammation nearly or quite ceases, 

 but the discharge and cough continue, particularly the former. 



Bronchitis is very apt to be mistaken for inflammation of the 

 lungs ; and although the part attacked is a portion of these 

 organs, and the diseases are often present at the same time, yet 

 the distinction is important, inasmuch as in one case a mucous 

 meml)rane is diseased, in the other the cellular structure of the 

 lungs : the symptoms of these aflections are not only difi^erent, 

 but the treatment too requires modification. Bronchitis very 

 frequently assumes the form of an epizootic, attacking a number 

 of horses at the same time. When this is the case the discharge 

 from the nostrils is exceedingly profuse, and is often of a yel- 

 lowish and sometimes of a greenish hue. 



This disease is generally longer running its course than pneu- 

 monia; and when its progress is unfavourable, it terminates in 

 death in the course of from five to ten days. 



The treatment of bronchitis must depend on the form which 

 it assumes. We must have recourse to bleeding in the acute 

 disease, but not to the same extent as in pneumonia. From 

 three to five quarts of blood will generally be a sufficient ab- 

 straction, but this must be regulated by the state of the pulse 

 during the operation ; as soon as it fails under the finger the 

 bleeding should cease. It is sometimes, though rarely, requisite 

 to bleed again the same day, but more frequently on the follow- 

 ing day ; and sometimes three or four venesections are required, 

 which of course must be regulated by the symptoms. The later 

 bloodlettings, however, must be in diminished quantities. When 

 bronchitis assumes an epidemic form, we must be still more 

 moderate in our venesections, and likewise when it appears in a 

 sub-acute state. 



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