514 



motionless. (In the first I believed that he had broken his neck. ) The 

 rapid respiration was then followed by a long inspiration, the animal 

 reo-ained his feet, the respiration became almost normal, andthetnbu- 

 lar murmur had disappeared. I have seen no fatal termination from 

 this spasm of the pneumo-gastric, but can readily believe that trau- 

 matisms resulting from such attacks might prove fatal, or that the' 

 spasm might continue long enough to produce asphyxia. The fatal 

 complication is pleurisy. This occurs when the horse has been kept 

 at work after the development of the disease while suffering from a 

 high fever, and is probably in no way specific, but the result of work 

 on an animal with high temperature. The additional symptoms are 

 those of an ordinary pleurisy. 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis is based upon the elevation of the tem- 

 perature without corresponding acceleration of the pulse and of the 

 respirations; upon the retention of appetite and spinal reflex, with 

 the great irritability of temper in the presence of a high temperature, 

 and upon the spasmodic cough and auscultatory sounds of bronchitis 

 with but trifling discharge. 



The diagnosis is made from oidematous pneumonia l)y the absence 

 of the yellow colorations, the absence of pneumonia, and the less con- 

 tinuous high temperature; from influenza by the absence of (edema, 

 of the ocher coloration, and of the typhoid symptoms; from strangles 

 by want of enlargement of the lymphatics, absence of purulent dis- 

 charge and abscesses; from variola by the nonappearance of pustules 

 and enlarged lymphatics; from simple bronchitis, as the latter is spo- 

 radic, and in it great fever is accompanied by profuse discharge; 

 from rheumatic pleurisy and pleurodynia by the history in these of 

 repeated attacks and great temporary pain; from surgical fever by 



the absence of cause. 



Pro(/Ho.s/.s.— The prognosis is usually favorable. This disease entails 



only the loss of ten days' to three weeks' use of the animal, and leaves 

 the subject with no complicating sequelae. In some cases I have seen 

 the irritable disposition remain for a length of time, but in every case 

 it has finally disappeared. As I have suggested, violent spasms might 

 prove fatal. Pleurisy would render the prognosis serious, as the same 

 disease would when occurring from simple causes. 



Treatment— The treatment of a stable should be at once prophylac- 

 tic. The infected animal should be removed, and complete disinfec- 

 tion of the stalls and area should be made. The individual treatment 

 is simple. The hygienic measures of cleanliness, fresh air without 

 drafts, frequent rubbing and tempting food should be thorough. The 

 digestive tract is to be regulated by small doses of bicarbonate of 

 soda, sulphate of soda, gentian, and tannic acid. The appetite is to 

 be stimulated by drinks of cold l)reakfast tea and cow's milk. Anti- 

 spasmodics are "to be used when the cough is excessive. The best 

 of these are camphor, belladonna, stramonium, and steaming Avith 



