CHAPTER II. 



DISEASES OE THE BREATHING AND 

 CIRCUEATORY ORGANS. 



Coughing^ Grunting^ Whistlings Roaring. Asthma and Broken-Wind. 

 Chill., Common Cold or Catarrh^ and Chronic Catarrh. Sore Throat or 

 Laryngitis. Bronchitis — Acute, Chro?iic, and Mechanical . Congestion 

 of the Lungs. Ljiflammation of the Lungs. Pleurisy. Palpitation of 

 the Hea?-t, and Lntermittence of the Pulse. 



COUGHING, GRUNTING, AND WHISTLING. 



Having now concluded our sketch of the general diseases of the horse, 

 which are included under " medicine," we propose to treat in order of the 

 several disorders of the breathing mechanism to which this animal is 

 subject. Before commencing our description of the diseases of the organs, 

 we must briefly refer to certain important symptoms associated for the most 

 part with disorders of the respiratory tubes, and we may conveniently speak 

 in the first place of " coughing." 



Coughing is a symptom of various diseases, the signs and treatment of 

 which will be described in their respective order. It is a modification of 

 breathing, and it consists of a deep-drawn inspiration, followed by closure of 

 the orifice of the main air tube at its opening into the back part of the 

 mouth, and by one or more short but violent expiratory efforts. Generally 

 it is excited by irritation at this opening, or in the breathing tube or its 

 ramifications ; but sometimes it may be a nervous affection. 



Cough is dry or moist. Dry cough is of several varieties, — short, hollow, 

 hacking, broken-winded, and spasmodic. It is characteristic of irritation 

 and of dryness of the lining membrane of the breathing lubes. In the early 

 stages of inflammation it is loud, long, and sonorous ; and becomes rasping, 

 and afterwards moist. In chronic disease of the larynx, or upper part of the 

 air tube, it is loud, soft, and hollow. In the early stages of bronchitis it has 

 a hollow metallic sound, and afterwards becomes moist, and is more or less 

 painful throughout the disease. In acute inflammation of the lungs the 

 cough is short, and in the later stages of the disease it is accompanied by 

 expectoration of a rusty coloured secretion. In pleurisy the cough is dry 

 and hacking, and is sometimes broken, as it were, in the middle. 



