RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 29 



The pulse is rapid and softer than in the first stage. The tempera- 

 ture is very irregular. When effusion takes place it usually drops 

 to nearly normal, but may rise again later. Its character is decid- 

 edly intermittent or even remittent. Very high fever speaks for 

 purulent pleuritis. General condition : In acute pleuritis the patient 

 often remains standing during the entire attack (horse). If the 

 patient lies down in the first stage, due to pain, it rests on the 

 well side, or if the condition is bilateral, on the sternum. In the 

 stage of effusion, the patient lies on the diseased side. In pleuritis 

 there is a tendency to swell on pedent portions of the body (under 

 chest, etc.). A total lack of appetite persists. 



Mild cases make a very rapid recovery and are often not rec- 

 ognized during life. The effusion forms rapidly ; in three to four 

 days the thorax may be half filled; the resorption of the exudate 

 however, takes place gradually and may require two to three weeks, 

 or even several months, during which time the life of the patient 

 is in jeopardy. The more serious the effusion, the more likely and 

 rapid the resorption. With much fibrinous exudate present, ad- 

 hesions between lung and thoracic wall are frequent. These adhe- 

 sions usually persist and cause the patient to be ever afterward 

 short-winded. Chronic pleuritis is incurable. Death in acute 

 causes may follow from asphyxia or exhaustion in two to three 

 weeks. 



TREATMENT 



The drugs used in the treatment of this disease are few and 

 simple. If the fever is high and needs to be checked, give a tea- 

 spoonful of National Febris Compound in drinking water three 

 times daily. If the fever is not controlled, increase the frequency 

 of the dose to every three or four hours. This also has a dieretic 

 eft'ect, which is very essential in this treatment. 



If breathing is very painful, the pains can be relieved by a 

 hypodermic injection of two to three grains of morphine, or still 

 better, a tablespoonful of National Anodyne given every hour with 

 a dose syringe until relieved. 



When the thoracic cavity fills excessively with fluid, the same 

 must be removed by means of a trocar and canula. The latter had 

 better be left to a competent veterinarian. 



