22 THE DISEASES OF HOUSES, 



air passages communicating with the lungs. The mucous membrane linmg 

 the tubes is charged with blood, contracting the passage, thereby 

 rendering the breathing more difficult, and in order to supply the lungs 

 with the necessary quantity of fresh air, making it more rapid. The 

 causes are the same as produce common cold, neglected cases of which 

 frequently result in bronchitis, and that again extends to the lungs. 

 Horses kept standing exposed in cold stormy weather, after a sharp 

 run, till they get chilled, run a great risk of contracting bronchitis ; and 

 the traveller who pulls up half numbed with cold, where the cheerful 

 blaze of the window invites a call, has, when seated before a roaring 

 fire, with something comforting to the inner man steaming before him, a 

 strong temptation to forget rather too long the faithful servant outside ; 

 but tho practice is dangerous, and wanting in that care which the 

 horse is entitled to. Bronchitis is rather an insidious foe, and, except 

 with the groom, who is often an acute and careful observer, may take up 

 a strong position unnoticed, or at least unheeded. 



It frequently begins in the nasal passages, extending down the windpipe 

 towards the lungs. There is running at the nose as an early symptom, and 

 the inside of the nostrils is slightly inflamed and of a scarlet hue ; the 

 breathing is increased in rapidity, and to those symptoms is added a 

 slight short cough. The appetite may be but little affected at first, and 

 so long as the animal eats it is often presumed that nothing ails him ; 

 but tho slightest change or falling off in appetite should be noted and 

 the cause considered, and when accompanied by cough and increased dis- 

 charge from the nostrils it should lead to closer observation and minute 

 inspection. A fever ball, a few mashes, and steaming by means of the 

 nosebag may at this early stage prevent much future mischief, and, indeed, 

 restore tho horse to its usual health. If the disease goes on unchecked, 

 the appetite entirely fails, the breathing becomes still more rapid, and 

 the breath is hot ; the discharge from the nose becomes purulent and 

 offensive ; the cough becomes more severe and painful as the sufferer en- 

 deavours to force out the clotted mucus which threatens to choke him ; tho 

 pulse is very much increased, and on auscultation— that is, listening to the 

 breathing by placing the ear against the side— an unnatural wheezing and 

 gurgling sound is heard ; the countenance of the horse has a haggard expres- 

 sion, and he shows a disinclination to move. As an additional evidence of 

 the true character of the disease, the legs and surface of the body will be 

 found to be of uneven temperature. 



In these cases it is a hopeful sign when the cough changes from the 

 hard and suppressed and becomes looser, and the animal succeeds in dis- 

 charging the accumulated mucus that had threatened to block up the 

 passage to the lungs ; and to assist and bring about this is the object to 

 which we should direct our efforts. 



As this is a quickly lowering disease, blood letting must be resorted 

 to with extreme caution ; although it may be desirable to do so at tho 

 onset of the attack, but tho patient will not boar the los3 of much 



