PNEUMONIA. 189 



to attempt, although it is very problematical whether much advantage 

 would accrue from the operation. With a favourite dog it may, however, 

 be tried ; and, to prevent all accidents, a veterinary surgeon should be 

 intrusted with the case. 



PNEUMONIA, 



or inflammation of the substance of the lungs, is a complaint of frequent 

 occurrence in the dog, and is singularly marked. The extended head, the 

 protruded tongue, the anxious, bloodshot eye, the painful heaving of the 

 hot breath, the obstinacy with which the animal sits up hour after hour 

 until his feet slip from under him, and the eye closes, and the head droops, 

 through extreme fatigue, yet in a moment being roused again by the feeling 

 of instant suffocation, are symptoms that cannot be mistaken. 



Here, from the comparative thinness of the integument and the parietes, 

 we have the progress of the disease brought completely under our view. 

 The exploration of the chest of the dog by auscultation is a beautiful as 

 well as wonderful thing. It at least exhibits to us the actual state of the 

 lungs, if it does not always enable us to arrest the impending evil. 



Mr. Blaine and myself used cordially to agree with regard to the treat- 

 ment of pneumonia, materially different from the opinions of the majority 

 of sportsmen. Epidemic pneumonia was generally fatal, if it was not 

 speedily arrested in its course. The cure was commenced by bleeding, and 

 that to a considerable extent, when not more than four-and-twenty or six- 

 and-thirty hours had passed ; for, after that, the progress of the disease 

 could seldom be arrested. Blistering the chest was sometimes resorted to 

 with advantage ; and the cantharides ointment and the oil of turpentine 

 formed one of the most convenient as well as one of the most efficacious 

 blisters. A purgative was administered, composed of mutton broth with 

 Epsom salts or castor oil ; to which followed the administration of the best 

 sedatives that we have in those cases, namely, nitre, powdered foxglove, and 

 antimonial powder, in the proportion of a scruple of the first, four grains 

 of the second, and two grains of the third. 



Congestion of the lungs is a frequent termination of pneumonia; and in 

 that congestion the air-cells are easily ruptured and filled with blood. That 

 blood assumes a black pulpy appearance, commonly indicated by the term 

 of rottenness, an indication or consequence of the violence of the disease, 

 and the hopelessness of the case. A different consequence of inflammation 

 of the lungs is the formation of tubercles, and, after that, of suppuration 

 and abscess, when, generally speaking, the case is hopeless. A full account 

 of this is given in the work on the Horse. 



Two cases of pneumonia will be useful : 



Oct. 22nd, 1820. A black pointer bitch that had been used to a warm 

 kennel, was made to sleep on flat stones without straw. A violent cough 

 followed, under which she had been getting worse and worse for a fortnight. 

 Yesterday I saw her. The breathing was laborious. The bitch was con- 

 stantly shifting her position, and, whether she lay down or sat up, was 

 endeavouring to elevate her head. Her usual posture was sitting, and 

 she only lay down for a minute. The eyes were surrounded, and the nose 

 nearly stopped with mucus. V. S. Sviij. Emet. Fever- ball twice in the 

 day. 23rd. Breathing not quite so laborious. Will not eat. Medicine 

 as before. Apply a blister on the chest. 24th. Nearly the same. V. S. 

 5vj. Bol. utheri. 26th. Decided amendment. She breathes with much 



