INFLAMMATION OF 'iHE LUNGS. 



cells or pouches, into which the air is conducted; and over the 

 delicate membranes constituting the divisions of which myriads of 

 minute vessels are ramifying, and where the blood undergoes its 

 important change. It is easy to imagine that this membrane, so 

 dehcate, and so loaded with blood-vessels, must be subject to in- 

 flammation of an exceedingly dangerous character. 



Still, however, these air-cells are not so often the seat of inflam 

 mation in cattle as might on first consideration be imagined. There 

 are exciting causes enough of inflammation in the air-passages from 

 exposure to the inclemency of the weather, and from the general 

 bad management to which cattle are subject ; and this may run on 

 to the formation of tubercles and ulcers, and death. 



Until latelv, all chest affections were confounded under the term 

 pneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs. Pneumonia occasionally 

 attacks all cattle, but more particularly working beasts, and those 

 that have been driven long, or hurried on their journey. The dis- 

 ease usually appears at the distance of some hours, or a day or two, 

 from the exciting cause of it, and can generally be clearly traced to 

 that cause. The beast is dull — the head is extended or drooping — 

 grazing and rumination have ceased. The flanks heave, but not so 

 laboriously as in bronchitis. There is cough frequent — sore, but not 

 so frequent, so urgent, nor so painful as that of bronchitis. The 

 mouth is hot, but the horns and ears and feet are deathy cold. The 

 animal will not lie down — will scarcely move, but more from inabil- 

 ity to move because he wants the use of the muscles for other pur- 

 poses, than from fear of suff'ocation — and he plainly points out the 

 seat of disease by looking at one or both flanks. Pneumonia, then, 

 would be easily distinguished from the disease which has been just 

 treated of, and from pleurisy, which will next come under considera- 

 tion, if the symptoms of the maladies of cattle were but a little more 

 attended to than they generally are. 



The treatment will vary in some minute particulars. Bleeding 

 will be indicated, and as earlv as possible, and the blood should flow 

 until the pulse is aftected. A much greater quantity will be ab- 

 stracted in this disease than in bronchitis, because the animal will 

 bear up, or struggle with the loss of blood. In a membrane so vas- 

 cular as that which lines the air-cells, the inflammation will often 

 be so intense that it will not yield to one bleeding, and the progress 

 of the disease must therefore be watched with this view. 



Copious bleeding is the remedy most to be depended on for sub- 

 duing the inflammation, and should be had recourse to as soon as the 

 disease is discovered. The beast should be put into a cool cow-house, 

 well littered, and immediately bled. If the difficulty of breathing 

 and other symptoms are not much relieved in six or eight hours 

 after the first bleeding, it should be repeated. A third or fourth 

 bleeding may in bad cases be requisite. In this disease, more than 

 12 



