68 



Blistering the sides with mustard or other counter-irritants 

 is often tried in severe cases, but its good effects are very 

 doubtful. However, it is an open question, and may be left 

 to ihe judgment of the individual practitioners. 



PLEURITIS, OR PLEURISY. 



Causes. — The causes are very much the same as produce 

 pneumonia, and it is needless to repeat them. 



Symptoms. — Inflammation of the serous membrane 

 lining the chest and protecting the lungs is sometimes found 

 as an independent disease, and also in connection with bad 

 cases of pneumonia. The principal symptoms are shivering, 

 with hot mouth and other signs of fever; disinclination to 

 turn round or move; a rapid, firm, corded pulse; an occa- 

 sional short, painful cough ; hurried, shallow, careful breath- 

 ing, sometimes followed by a sigh or grunt. In a state of 

 health this membrane has a soft, oily touch ; it is thin, fine, 

 and transparent as a silk pocket handkerchief, and during 

 respiration has a slight motion. But when inflamed every 

 act of breathing causes intense pain. To avoid this pain, 

 caused by the movements of the ribs, the abdominal muscles 

 are called in to aid in respiration — there is tucking up of 

 the belly and lifting of the flanks. 



Pressure on the spaces between the ribs causes pain, and 

 when the ear is applied to the chest it discovers a rough, 

 rasping noise. 



During the early part of the disease the horse frequently 

 looks round to his side, paws with his feet, and breathes in 

 a jerking manner. After some time — from one to three days 

 — the patient seems easier, the pain is gone, and the animal 

 looks more cheerful. 



Exudation is now proceeding ; the fluid portion of the 

 blood passes into the chest to the amount of from six to ten 

 gallons; this state is called hydrothorax. After this the 

 breathing becomes worse, with flapping of the nostrils, lift- 



