.THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 35 



Symptoms of Pleurisy. — This disease is generally ushered 

 in, like other febrile affections, by fever and trembling of the 

 fore extremities. The cough accompanying pleurisy is painful, 

 and the animal tries to suppress it as much as possible ; the 

 breathing is not laborious, but short, the intercostal muscles 

 not admitting of their usual extension and contraction without 

 intense pain ; the diaphragm has to perform the respiratory 

 movement, without the aid of the former muscles. If sliglit 

 pressure be made on the intercostal spaces, between the ribs, 

 the animal will evince symptoms of intense pain ; if a person 

 attempts to back the patient, the latter will moan or grunt, and 

 be very unwilling to move. The patient stands with his fore 

 legs wide apart, and seldom, if ever, lies down. 



On applying the ear to the sides of the chest, a slight sound, 

 resembling that of friction, is discernible ; this is probably oc- 

 casioned by the presence of effused lymph on the pleural sur- 

 faces. The pulse is generally quick, tense, and small. These 

 are the principal symptoms of pleurisy in its early stage ; they 

 will vary as the disease progresses, or become complicated. 

 The minor symptoms, such as " loss of cud," etc., are not worth 

 noticing, as they are present in various other forms of disease. 



Treatment of Pleurisy. — All the orthodox veterinary works 

 recommend bleeding and purging for this affection, but the 

 author advises his readers not to pay the least attention to such 

 false and fatal doctrine ; the practice has killed more than it 

 ever cured. Instead of abstracting blood, I usually admin- 

 ister nauseants and diaphoretics. Let the animal be drenched 

 with the following: — 



Fluid extract of Lobelia, 1 drachm. 



Liquor Acetate of Ammonia, 4 ounces. 



Hot Water, 1 pint. Mix. 



Repeat the dose at the end of four hours. In the meantime 

 let a mustard poultice be applied to both sides of the chest ; 

 should it not be convenient to do this, smear the sides with a 

 paste composed of mustard, vinegar, and salt. After the exhibi- 

 tion of the above medicine, let the patient have a few«doses of 

 powdered nitre ; this may be dissolved in flax-seed tea, or thin 



