NONCONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF RESPIRATION. 103 



for determining the condition of the lungs and air passages. Animals 

 can not give the various phases of respiration on demand, as can the 

 patients of the human practitioner. The organs themselves are less 

 accessible than in man, owing to the greater bulk of tissue surrounding 

 them and the pectoral position of the fore extremities, all of which 

 render it more difficult in determining pathological conditions. (See 

 1'late vin.) 



If the ear bo applied to the throat of a healthy bovine the air will be 

 heard passing through the windpipe with a regular, steady, blowing 

 sound: it' applied to the chest, a soft, rustling murmur will be heard, 

 caused by the air passing in and out of the fine tubes and air cells of 

 the lungs, whieh has been likened to a gentle breeze in the tree tops. 

 But when the lungs or throat are diseased the sounds are very much 

 eli an;;e<l. a point which will be dealt with in connection with the treat- 

 ment of the special diseases of the organs of respiration. 



Percussion is that mode of examination by which we elicit sounds by 

 striking or tapping over the part. It may be direct or indirect. If the 

 ends of the fingers of the left hand are placed firmly on the chest and 

 smartly tupped with the ends of the first three fingers of the right hand 

 the .sound will be noticed to be more resonant and clear than when the 

 same procedure is practiced ou a solid part of the body. This is be- 

 eause the lungs are not solid, but are always in health, well expanded 

 with air. But in certain pulmonary diseases they fill up and become 

 .solid, when the sound given out by percussing them is like that on any 

 other solid part of the animal. By practice on healthy animals the 

 character and boundaries of the sounds can be so well determined that 

 any variations i'rom them will be at once detected, and will sometimes 

 ilix-lo.se the presence of a diseased condition, when, nothing else will. 



CATARRH COLD IN THE HEAD. 



Nasal eatarrh is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the 

 nostrils and upper air passages. Simple catarrh is not a serious disease 

 in itself, but if neglected is liable to be complicated with laryngitis, 

 bronehitis, pneumonia, pleurisy, and other diseases of the respiratory 

 organs, which are of a serious nature, and sometimes fatal. Catarrh is 

 a eoinmon disease among cattle. It is often due to sudden exposure, 

 to wet and cold after they have been accustomed to shelter. It may 

 from inhalation of irritating gases. It is sometimes due to certain 

 specific atmospheric conditions, and may assume ancnzootic form: it is 

 ver\ debilitating, and requires prompt and judicious treatment. 



Symptom*. Kedness of the mucous membranes of the nose, redness 

 ami watering of the eyes. The mucous membrane first becomes dry; 

 afterwards a watery discharge appears, and later on in severe cases the 

 discharge becomes mucopurulent. In mild cases there is little or no 

 fever, but in severe cases the fever may run high. The animal becomes 

 dull, languid, and is not inclined to move about, and the appetite may 



