128 CANINE ASTHMA. 



morbid alteration resulting from slow inflammation, yet in its lead- 

 ing symptoms it so nearly resembles that type of the disease called 

 the aerial or dry human asthma, as to allow of the application of 

 this popular term. The inhabitants of country towns and villages 

 can form no just idea of the prevalence and destructive nature of 

 this disease in cities and confined neighbourhoods, where it is a 

 most common complaint. It derives its origin from the artificial 

 mode of life forced on pet and fancy dogs, whose close confine- 

 ment and over feeding lead to an extraordinary accumulation of 

 fat ; and according to the degree in which these predisposing causes 

 have been applied, the disease appears earlier or later in life. In 

 some it comes on at three or four years old ; in others, rather less 

 artificially treated, it may not appear till seven or eight : but sooner 

 or later, most dogs confined in close situations, deprived of exer- 

 cise, and fed with heating and luxurious food, become subjected to 

 it, and as certainly have their lives shortened by it. 



The disease is usually very insidious in its attack, commencing 

 by a slight cough, which returns at uncertain intervals, and is 

 therefore hardly noticed. Gradually, however, the cough becomes 

 more frequent and troublesome, and assumes its peculiar harsh, 

 dry, and sonorous character ; and is then often mistaken for a 

 bone in the throat, or for sponge having been designedly given. 

 It becomes now excited by every change of temperature, food, or 

 position ; until at length it is almost incessant, and even the sleep 

 is interrupted by it : the breathing becomes also affected ; some- 

 times it is very laborious and painful. The irritation of the cough 

 frequently excites nausea and sickness, but nothing is brought up 

 except a little frothy mucus from the bronchial passages, where its 

 presence forms the source of the irritation. When the disease is 

 formed, its further progress is quicker or slower as the exciting 

 causes are continued or discontinued ; the modes also by which it 

 produces its fatal termination are not always the same. 



In some cases, the irritation of the cough and the accompany- 

 ing hectic emaciates and wears down the animal ; in others, the 

 pulmonary congestion stops respiration, and kills by a sudden 



