188 THE HORSE. 



from the stable to grass will equally give rise to disease of the lungs. It 

 is generally the effect of our erroneous system of management. 



We shall presently state the symptoms by which inflammation of the 

 lungs maybe distinguished from catarrhal fever. It may be distinguished 

 from inflammation of the bowels by the pulse, which, in the latter disease, 

 is small and wiry; — by the membrane of the nose, which is not then so 

 much reddened ; — by the indications of pain, as kicking at the belly, stamp- 

 ing, and rolling; by his eager scraping of the litter, and by the belly being 

 painful to the touch, and also hot, when the bowels are inflamed. 



PLEURISY. 



Hitherto we have spoken of inflammation of the substance of the lungs; 

 but inflammation may attack the membrane covering them and lining the side 

 of the chest {the pleura), and be principally or entirely confined to that mem- 

 brane. This is termed pleurisy. The causes are the sam.e as in inflam- 

 mation of the substance of the lungs, and the symptoms are not very dis- 

 similar. The guiding distinction will be the pulse. As the blood in this 

 disease still traverses the lungs without obstruction, we have not the op- 

 pressed pulse, but rather the hard, full pulse characteristic of inflamma- 

 tion ; the extremities are cold, but not so cold ; the membrane of the nose 

 intensely red in the former disease, because it is a continuation of the in- 

 flamed fining of the air cells of the lungs, is here but little reddened, because 

 there is no connexion between them; if the sides are pressed upon in 

 pleurisy pain will be felt, which the horse will exj^ress by a kind of grunt, and 

 which is easily explained by the pressure being applied so close to the seat 

 of disease. The manner of standing, however, will remain the same, and 

 the obstinacy of standing the same, and the extension of the neck, and 

 the protrusion of the nostril. After death the pleura of the ribs and the 

 lungs will exhibit stripes or patches of inflammation, and the chest will be 

 generally filled with serous fluid. 



Copious bleeding is indicated here, as in inflammation of the substance 

 of the lungs. Blisters and sedative medicines must likewise be resorted to. 

 The only important difference is, that aperients may be administered with 

 more safety than in the former disease. Puncturing of the chest to give 

 escape to the fluid that is thrown out in it may be attempted. It cannot 

 do harm, but it has very seldom saved or much prolonged the life of the 

 animal. If the operation be attempted, it should be as soon as the piesence 

 of the fluid is suspected, and the means by which this may be ascertained 

 we have already described. The opening should be effected with the com- 

 mon trochar used for tapping in dropsy in the human being, and should be 

 made between the eighth and ninth ribs, and close to the cartilages. Diu- 

 retic medicines combined with tonics should be administered. 



CATARRH, OR COMMON COLD. 



This is a complaint of frequent occurrence, generally subdued without 

 much difficulty, but often becoming of serious consequence if neglected. 

 It is accompanied by a little increase of pulse; a slighi discharge from the 

 nose and eyes ; a coat somewhat roughened ; a diminution of appetite, and 

 cough sometimes painful and frequent. A little warmth, a few mashes, 

 and some doses of the medicine recommended under inflammation of the 

 lungs, will speedily eflcct a cure. Should the cough be \ery painful and 

 obstinate, it may be necessary to bleed; but then the disease is degenerating 

 into bronchitis or catarrhal lever. 



