PLEURISY. 573 



Lying in damp, cold spots, or on brick or stone, and exposure to cold and damp while 

 the feeding has been neglected, are the commonest causes of pleurisy. 



Sometimes however, although rarely, pleurisy may be the result of direct violence from kicks 

 or blows or stabs, and it may also be combined with pneumonia a very dangerous complication 

 of distemper. 



Symptoms. The disease always sets in with some degree of rigor or shivering, which, 

 however, may pass unnoticed. The next symptom is uneasiness ; the dog keeps roaming about 

 and pays frequent visits to his water-dish, his countenance is somewhat anxious, and his coat 

 is staring. Then the breathing becomes affected ; from lying on his belly the animal will rise 

 suddenly to his haunches, with neck well stretched out and panting, and it will be observed 

 that the respiration is chiefly abdominal, the dog seeming to dread inspiration, which is short 

 and painful, while expiration is longer and easier. The evident distress of the animal soon 

 calls for manual examination. His pulse if a large dog, for it is hardly worth while feeling 

 the pulse of a toy is hard, wiry, and quick. 



The cough is peculiar : it is a dry, harsh cough, and combined with this you have all the 

 other symptoms of inflammation, hot skin and nose, and restlessness, &c. 



On passing the hand ever so lightly over the affected side, we will observe a quivering 

 movement as if the dog dreaded being touched, and if we press in the intercostal space we 

 will generally find the dog will evince signs of pain and tenderness. 



If the ear be applied to the chest, over the seat of pain generally the lower part of the 

 lung while yet there is no effusion, and the inside of the pleurae are simply roughened, we can 

 easily detect the friction sound, as it is called, a sort of a grating or rubbing noise, and with 

 this there will be dulness on percussion. If effusion takes place into the cavity of the pleura 

 we will no longer hear the friction sound, as the sides of the sac are not now close together, or 

 if the disease ends in resolution the sound will disappear, and the dog will improve. In the 

 case of effusion the symptoms of dyspnoea will be very marked (the dog persistently sitting on 

 his hind-quarters or standing), and dulness on percussion a prominent sign. 



If the disease goes on to suppuration, this will generally be known by the dog having 

 shiverings, while clammy sweats bedew the insides of the thighs. 



Treatment. We have to lessen pain, subdue the inflammation, and endeavour to restore the 

 pleura to its wonted state of smoothness and simple moisture. 



Pleurisy was another of those diseases which the older practitioners thought it impossible to 

 subdue without bleeding. But if, as already hinted, the disorder generally attacks dogs when 

 they are rather low than otherwise, it cannot be good practice surely to weaken them still 

 further. 



We commence our treatment, then, by giving a simple dose of opening medicine, say castor 

 oil, and no lowering aperient. 



Rest in this disease is of paramount importance ; the bed must be comfortable without being 

 too warm, and it must be placed out of a draught, but plenty of fresh air is requisite. 



Locally, we neither blister nor bleed now-a-days, especially in the case of small dogs, 

 although a few leeches might be applied to the tender side of a large and powerful animal, 

 such as a Mastiff or St. Bernard. However, it is probably best to be on the safe side, and 

 trust to very large warm linseed-meal poultices, or better still, if the animal will lie down, to 

 bags of heated sand. If the poultices cannot be kept on all night, a nice warm flannel roller 

 ought to be well wound around the chest. In addition to the poultices, well foment four times 

 a day with hot water, 



