DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 8? 



Feeding should be mainly of soft mashes, roots, and other 

 laxative agents, but never bulky. Linseed, oat, barley, or corn 

 meal may be given wet, and hay replaced by corn-stalks or 

 good fresh grass. Finally give tonics, mainly arsenite of 

 strychnia, or sulphate of iron or copper and tannic acid. 



ACUTE CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS IN HORSES. 



This is always the first stage of Pneumonia, but may occur in 

 a sudden and fatal form from over-exertion in fat or otherwise 

 ill-conditioned horses. An animal that has stood idle in the 

 stable or has been rapidly fattened for sale, when taken out 

 and driven or ridden at the top of his speed soon hangs heavily 

 on the bit, slackens his speed, and if not stopped, staggers and 

 falls; or the exertion is passed through, but the animal is seized 

 when returned to the stable. He then stands with dilated 

 nostrils, quick, laboured, convulsive, wheezy breathing, ex- 

 tended head, staring bloodshot eyes, agonised expression, deep 

 red or blue nasal membrane, and rapid, weak pulse, often 

 almost imperceptible at the jaw. Ausadtation detects a loud 

 sound. The heart is felt behind the left elbow beating tumul- 

 tuously, and the limbs are cold, though perspiration may break 

 out at different parts of the body. If blood is drawn it flows 

 in a dark, tarry-looking stream, and the lungs after death might 

 be compared to a dark-red jelly. 



Treatment. — Remove girths, saddles, and whatever may 

 hamper breathing, turn the head to the wind, give an active 

 stimulant (alcohol or alcoholic liquors, ammonia or any of its 

 compounds, oil of turpentine, ether, sweet spirits of nitre, 

 ginger, pepper), the first that comes to hand, in a full dose, 

 following up with warm water injections and active hand- 

 rubbing. In extreme cases prompt relief may often be obtained 

 by bleeding from the jugular, but this should not replace the 

 measures already advised, but should be added to them. An 

 excellent resort when available is to wrap from head to tail in 



