EPIDEMIC AFFECTION OF THE UPPER AIR-PASSAGES. 259 



cough of sore throat is a painful one, and is confined to the throat. 

 It is often a decidedly local affection ; there is not much tendency to 

 take on inflammation in the neighboring parts ; the treatment will be 

 bleeding and physic, to abate the general fever, and stimulating 

 embrocations, or even blisters, to subdue the local inflammation. 



The great development of the ethmoid and turbinated bones in 

 the nose of the ox, in order to increase the acuteness of smell in that 

 ammal, has already been described (p. 181). The consequence of this 

 is, that there is but a small passage left for the air, and when the 

 membrane of tlie nose occasionally sympathizes with that of the 

 pharynx, and becomes inflamed and thickened, there ensues a diffi- 

 culty of breathing, from sore throat. It is true that the ox breathes 

 partly through the mouth, but the pharynx itself is constricted and 

 thickened, and the breathing becomes laborious almost to sufi"ocation : 

 therefore sore throat should be considered in a rather serious lio-ht, 

 and be treated with corresponding promptitude. 



LARYNGITES INFLAMMATION OF THE LARYNX. 



This is a dreadful disease, and, fortunately, of rare occurrence It 

 is inflammation of the lining membrane of the larynx, and is attended 

 by a quickened, loud and laborious breathing, that would scarcely be 

 thought credible. In some exceedingly acute cases the number of 

 respirations equals, or even exceeds, that of the pulse. The least 

 pressure on the neck over the larynx seems to give intense pain. 

 The treatment is bleeding, physic, bhsters, and, when suftbcation 

 actually threatens, tracheotomy. 



EPIDEMIC AFFECTION OF THE UPPER AIR-PASSAGES. 



In low and marshy districts, and a wet, cold, ungenial sprino- or 

 autumn, there is occasionally an epidemic inflammation of the 

 pharynx, larynx, and windpipe, which dfS"ers in some respects from 

 any of the diseases yet described, and is very fatal. The malady 

 commences like most febrile ones, with loss of appetite and suspen- 

 sion of rumination ; to these speedily succeed dullness, some prostra- 

 tion of strength, and a slight difficulty of breathing. On the follow- 

 ing day, or in the course of a few hours, the throat becomes tender, 

 and it is evidently a little gorged between the channel, and extending 

 some way down the neck. The animal finds difficulty and pain in 

 moving his head or his neck, and in swallowing the medicines or 

 drinks which are given to him. The engorgement slowly proceeds, 

 or seems to be stationary for a w^iile ; the fever acquii'es no high 

 degree of intensity, but the languor and prostration of streno-th in- 

 crease ; sometimes there is discharge from the mouth or nose, of a 

 purulent character, yellowish-wl^te in color, fetid, tinged with blood, 

 and seeming to contain particles of some mucous membrane which 



