DISTEMPER AND DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY 



ORGANS 



Dr. E. L. \^olgexau, Buffalo, N. Y. 



Before entering upon a discussion 

 of the diseases of the respiratory ap- 

 paratus, let us brietly consider which 

 organs or parts are involved in the 

 function of breathing. 



In the horse, mouth-breathing is 

 verv rarely seen. The air passes 

 through the nostrils into the nasal 

 chambers and sinuses in the head, 

 where it is slightly warmed, thence 

 past the pharynx, through the larynx, which is situated at the top 

 of the trachea or windpipe. The windpipe, in turn, divides into 

 the bronchi, of Avhicli there are two, one leading to each lung. 

 These bronchi are divided into what are known as the bronchial 

 tubes, which penetrate every portion of the lungs. 



The entire tract is lined with delicate mucous membrane, which 

 may suffer injury from many causes, giving rise to the various 

 disorders which form the theme of this paper. Some of these 

 causes are : cold draughts on an overheated body ; irritant gases 

 from decomposing manure; hot, badly ventilated stables; over- 

 work or overexertion when the animal is in poor condition ; sudden 

 change of climate and surroundings, such as a change from the 

 farm to the city ; and infection from cars or dealers' stables. 



DISTEMPER 



This is an infectious disease, usually of young animals, but may 

 aft"ect horses of any age. One attack usually renders an animal 

 immune to future attacks. 



Symptoms: Fever, diminished appetite, weakness, rapid pulse 

 and respiration, redness of visible mucous membrane, cough, dis- 

 charge from the nose — at first thin and watery, later becoming 

 thicker, yellowish in color and greatly increased in quantity, with 

 swelling of the submaxillary glands, due to abscess formation. 

 Sometimes we find abscess formations in other superficial glands, 

 J6 f241] 



