94 PNEUMONIA. 



there is a decided attack of inflammation of the lungs. 

 There are few symptoms so invariable as this. In 

 common catarrh, in influenza, or in bronchitis, the 

 legs may occasionally be cool ; yet often their tempe- 

 rature will be above the natural standard, or it may 

 be variable ; but a fixed icy coldness marks an attack 

 of pneumonia. 



The pulse should be anxiously examined. In in- 

 flammation of the lungs the pulse will seldom be hard; 

 it will occasionally be scarcely detectable, but it 

 nearly always has an obscure oppressed feeling; 

 which will give the idea of fluid labouring onwards 

 with difficulty. The careful observer in it will have 

 a palpable demonstration, that the blood is congested 

 within the substance of the lungs ; that the heart like- 

 wise lacks the power to urge forward its contents. 



The flanks will heave quickly and laboriously : 

 there will evidently be much painful effort on the part 

 of Nature to force the blood through the lungs; the 

 idea of suffocation will be presented to the attendant. 

 Suffering is sometimes indicated by the anxious gaze 

 at the side; a symptom, which is not usually observ- 

 able in the chest affections that have subsequently to 

 be considered. 



In addition to all this, there is a stiff manner of 

 standing — an evident attempt to make the limbs the 

 fixed points ; that the muscles which are common to 

 the thorax and the extremities may be employed in 

 aiding to expand the chest. For the same reason, a 

 horse affected with pneumonia can scarcely be in- 

 duced to move : and he will not lie down, but obsti- 

 nately stand until he drops from fatigue, or falls to 



