PLEURISY. 123 



if one intermediate dose of Sulphur 12, consisting of fifteen grains 

 be administered. 



China 6. — In cases that have progressed satisfactorily to con- 

 valescence and no bad results are left behind, complete restora- 

 tion to health will be considerably facilitated by administering a 

 ten-drop dose of China night and morning for a week or fort- 

 night or even longer, provided the animal continues to go on well 

 and improve; otherwise it should be discontinued and one dose of 

 Sulphur 12, as mentioned above be given to complete the cure. 



PI.EURISY. 



We have already endeavored to explain that the outer covering 

 of the lungs, the membrane which serves to enclose them is called 

 the pleura; a membrane in all respects very similar in character 

 and appearance to this, also covers the internal portion of the 

 cavity of the chest, namely, that which is inclosed within the ribs, 

 and as both have a smooth, shining, glazed surface, they are able 

 to rub together in health without either noise or sensation, but 

 when once inflamed a very different state of affairs arises; it must 

 be understood that during life there is no space between the lungs 

 and the wall of the chest, therefore it is necessary that the mem- 

 branes (pleura) covering both lung and chest walls should be per- 

 fectly smooth, that the lungs may, as they move, glide easily over 

 the inner surface of the chest walls; let inflammation, however, 

 attack this delicate membrane and it no longer glides easily upon 

 itself; a roughness is the result, which, as the lungs move in the 

 act of respiration, produce great pain and auscultation reveals the 

 frictional sound, due to two rough surfaces playing one upon the 

 other; such a sound as is observable when course sand or very fin 2 

 gravel is rubbed between the closely approximated palms of the 

 hands. 



The inflammatory action may center itself directly and inde- 

 pendently upon the pleural membrane, in which case it generall}' 

 owes its origin to cold and other meteorological influences; or, it 

 may be due to injury; in most cases, however, it is associated with 

 inflammation of contiguous portions of the respiratory organs or 

 diseases of the heart. In health, this very finely constructed 

 membrane secretes a fluid sufficient in quantity only to lubricate 

 it, and so render one part capable of gliding easily upon the 



