RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 25 



slime is ejected through the mouth and nose. In the early stages 

 especially the respirations are increased. Percussion is normal and 

 on listening rales are heard. Rales may be absent in the early 

 stages, but will appear gradually about the second or third day. 

 The character of the rale will depend upon the size of the bronchus 

 involved and the consistency of the exudate. In the larger bronchi, 

 provided the exudate is rather fluid, the rale is of the character of 

 bursting large bubbles, while in the smaller bronchi the rales are 

 much finer and of a crackling character. If the bronchial mucosa 

 is much swollen, narrowing the lumen of the bronchi, whistling, 

 piping or hissing tones may be heard. As a rule the animal shows 

 fever in the early stages (104 to 106 degrees F.), but usually within 

 two or three days the temperature drops. With the continuance of 

 the fever the pulse frequency increases. 



CHRONIC CATARRHAL BRONCHITIS usually develops 

 from the acute form. It may occur, however, as a symptom of 

 chronic heart and lung disease. It is frequently associated with 

 chronic pulmonary emphysema or seen to accompany such chronic 

 infectious diseases as tuberculosis, glanders, or verminous pneu- 

 monia. Generally speaking, chronic bronchitis leads to irreparable 

 injury, not only of the walls of the bronchi, but also of the neighbor- 

 ing lung tissue. The symptoms of chronic bronchitis are much the 

 same as those of the acute, except that the condition is feverless 

 and suffers many periodical increases of violence. The general 

 condition of the patient may not be much disturbed, and the only 

 evidences of the disorder are chronic cough, difficulty in breathing, 

 and nasal discharge, which is often foamy and white in appearance. 

 Obviously, if chronic bronchitis is a symptom of an infectious dis- 

 ease like tuberculosis or glanders, the symptoms which typify 

 these conditions will be associated with those of bronchitis. In 

 practice chronic bronchitis is most commonly met with in horses 

 suft'ering from "heaves." It also occurs frequently in dairy cows 

 in the Eastern States, especially during raw, damp. weather. The 

 principal symptoms are a persistent cough and slight nasal dis- 

 charge, which is usually wiped off with the tongue. There are no 

 constitutional symptoms. The course is benign except in neglected 

 cases. 



In healing, the acute form usually terminates in two to three 

 weeks. When the smaller bronchi become involved, the course is 

 more prolonged and is apt to lead to bronchopneumonia and death. 

 Death may also result from pulmonary edema. 



Chronic bronchitis may last for months or years, depending 



