THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS 323 



effect — at least, such is the case in country practice — and gives 

 prompt relief. This may be accompanied by a dose of from 10 to 

 20 ounces of linseed oil, mixed with 1 to 2 ounces of spirits of nitre, 

 and 10 to 15 drops of tincture of aconite (Fleming's). A dose of 

 nuclein given hypodermically answers well in many cases if given at 

 the onset. Blankets wrung out of hot water, as described under 

 Bronchitis, may be applied to the chest, and nitrate of potash offered 

 in the drinking-water with soft food, as also recommended for 

 Bronchitis. Good nursing all through is highly essential. Asso- 

 ciated with this disease we may have pleuro-pneumonia, as in 

 cattle, in which both the lungs and their covering (the pleurae) are 

 involved, and the treatment is the same as in pneumonia. 



516. Pleurisy consists in inflammation of the pleurae — that is, the 

 serous membrane which lines the chest and covers the lungs 

 (par. 485). This is a very painful complaint; the animal stands still, 

 appears to be frightened to move, the elbows are turned out, and the 

 ribs are as stationary as possible. The breathing, which is very 

 hurried, is for the most part carried on by the abdominal muscles, 

 thus causing a ridge or line — the pleuritic line — from the elbow-point 

 to the haunch-bone. If made to move, the animal groans with pain; 

 the eyelids are red, the nose is poked out, and the pulse is full and 

 strong. At times a painful frightened cough is emitted. When both 

 surfaces of the pleurae are involved in the inflammatory action, bands 

 of fibrin are formed between the lungs and the walls of the chest. 

 This formation will take place in the space of from thirty to forty 

 hours, and as the case proceeds the chest becomes full of water on 

 one or both sides, producing the condition known as hydrothorax. 

 At first the treatment to be adopted is similar to that given under 

 Pneumonia (par. 515). 



517. Hydrothorax, or water in the chest, sometimes arises from 

 attacks of bronchitis, pneumonia, heart disease, and pleurisy. 



The symptoms are somewhat analogous to those observed in pleurisy, 

 but on applying the ear to the lower portion of the neck, just above 

 the breast-bone, the water can generally be distinctly heard splashing 



