Signs of Pleurisy, 117 



chitls. Occasionally dii'ect violence and wounds lead to 

 pleurisy. 



Symptoms. — At the outset of the disease there is gener- 

 ally a chill, staring coat, and coldness of the skin, with 

 signs of pain, the animal pawing the ground and rolling. 

 Soon, however, this gives way to so much stiiFness and sore- 

 ness that any movement is made unwillingly, and if pressed 

 on the affected side the animal wdll indicate pain. The 

 breathing is rapid and incomplete, as every act of respiration 

 increases the pain in the chest. Hence it is largely performed 

 by the abdominal muscles. The pulse is hard and quick, 

 and there is a short, dry, painful cough. If the inflamma- 

 tion is extensive, the movemcLts of the animal are very slow, 

 unwilling and stiff. On listening to the chest in the early 

 stage, a dry, creaking sound is heard, like two pieces of 

 leather rubbed together, caused by the movements of the in- 

 flamed membranes upon each other. 



In the second stage, which comes on in from two to five 

 days, when the space between the membrane is filled with 

 secreted fluid, this sound disappears. On percussion, the 

 lungs sound solid, especially in their most dependent por- 

 tions. The breathing now becomes more labored, other 

 muscles are called on to aid, even extending to those of the 

 tail, which is moved up and down with a motion like a pump 

 handle ; the nostrils are distended and flap, the pulse is small 

 and irregular, and there are dropsical swellings. This condi- 

 tion is that of ^^ water on the chest '^ or " hydro-thorax.^^ If 

 the water does not rise higher than one-third of the chest — 

 easily ascertained by percussion — there is a fair chance of 

 recovery. 



Treatment. — In the very earliest stage, when the pain is 

 usually most acute, a full dose of an opiate will cut it short in 

 most cases. Thus we may give : — 



