INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS 47 



that side where the inflammation has settled. He 

 stands in a straddling manner, with his fore legs 

 generally considerably apart. He seldom lies down, 

 and when he does so it is but for a few minutes, 

 remaining for days on his legs. 



It does not, however, always happen that the 

 premonitory symptoms are the same, for in many 

 cases inflammation comes on slowly and in an in- 

 sidious manner. Perhaps the horse may be off his 

 feed and his coat will stare ; his breathing may be 

 but slightly accelerated and abbreviated, with the legs 

 a little colder than usual. Sometimes inflammation of 

 the lungs is preceded by symptoms which are at- 

 tendant upon common fever, catarrh, or influenza. In 

 such instances the true disease manifests itself in its 

 full force when the groom or master of the horse least 

 suspects it. The first manifestations are coldness in 

 the limbs and ears, accompanied by the flurried pulsa- 

 tion and anxious look, with a seeming dread of lying 

 down. This is soon followed by an irregularity and 

 indistinctness in the pulse, and extreme coldness affects 

 the legs and ears. The nostrils become livid — he 

 hardly seems to breathe — he grinds his teeth — and 

 these may be regarded as the too certain symptoms of 

 dissolution ; staggering ensues, and he finally sinks in 

 his stall. 



This last is a picture of that kind of inflammation 

 of the lungs which has lurked in the constitution with- 

 out exhibiting premonitory symptoms, and which in 

 most cases proves fatal. There are, besides, cases in 

 which the disease is so rapid that it will have under- 

 gone its entire stages in twenty-four hours. In this 

 short time the entire mass of the lungs will have suf- 

 fered complete destruction from engorgement with blood. 

 Such a case has been satisfactorily proved not to 



