140 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



The diagnosis of pneumonitis in cattle does not offer 

 much difficult3^ In most instances the attack begins 

 with a chill or rigor which may remain in evidence 

 only a few minutes. In other cases It may remain 

 for several hours; usually, however, it does not per- 

 sist for any great length of time, and has passed by 

 the time the veterinarian sees the patient. 



The animal stands slightly ''humped up" and al- 

 most from the very beginning the elbows are turned 

 outward. The body temperature is elevated several 

 degrees, standing when the chill has passed around 

 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or even a little higher. 



Auscultation over the thorax reveals distinct rales, 

 and pressure exerted over the intercostal spaces always 

 proves painful to the patient. In the early stages 

 the cow will maintain the standing position, but later 

 in the attack she assumes the recumbent attitude for 

 long periods at a time. AVhen in the latter position 

 she usually emits a characteristic grunt. 



The appetite is impaired as a rule and in the lat- 

 ter stages there may be a discharge from the nose. 

 In most cases there is a certain degree of constipa- 

 tion at first; later there is apt to be some diarrhea. 



The treatment of pneumonitis consists of remedial 

 agents Avhich have a tendency to support the system, 

 especially the heart, and appropriate sero-therapy to 

 control secondary infections, such as result from the 

 invasion of pus-producing organisms. Measures used 

 to exert a direct action on the pathological condition 

 are, as a rule, failures. 



The treatment which we have adopted and used 

 with mucli satisfaction for a period of years is about 

 as follows: 



We start the treatment, no matter in what stage 

 the case comes into our hands, with an old fashioned 



