DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 83 



DIPHTHERIA. 



This is seen in pigs, and it is even claimed to occur in horses, 

 but the false membranes in the latter animals rarely amount to 

 more than thickened mucus. It appears to be due to the 

 locality rather than contagion. Close, filthy pens, and want of 

 care have appeared injurious in some cases. 



Sympto7ns. — Sudden illness, with sore- throat and extreme 

 weakness and stiffness of back and loins. The pig moves 

 slcwly and crouchingly with raised head, open dry mouth, 

 hoarse nasal grunt, livid tongue, and red, swollen throat, with 

 greyish-white patches of false membranes. The eyes are dull 

 and sunken and the appetite gone. In a few hours all the 

 structures of throat and nose are involved, there is much swell- 

 ing and threatened suffocation, and shreds oi false membrane are 

 coughed up. The patient remains down, sits on his haunches, 

 or leans on the fence, and usually perishes in a fit of coughing. 



Treatment. — Must be early to succeed, hence, examine the 

 throat for false membranes in all cases of sore-throat in pigs, 

 holding the animal with a noose around the upper jaw. It 

 white patches are seen, apply at once and freely the nitrate of 

 silver lotion advised for croup, and repeat as often as may seem 

 necessary to keep the diseased growths in check. The bowels 

 may be freely opened by a purgative (jalap) and twenty drops 

 of tincture of the muriate of iron, and ten grains nitre given 

 thrice a day in a tea-spoonful of cold water. Great attention 

 must be given to the comfort and to secure soft, easily-digestible 

 food for some time. 



CHRONIC ROARING IN HORSES. 



This is a wheezing, whistling, or hoarse rasping sound made 

 in the upper part of the windpipe (larynx) in breathing, and 

 especially when excited. It is usually due to paralysis and 

 wasting of the muscles on the left side of the larynx and wtuch 

 open the channel for the air, and in such cases the noise is 



