RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 31 



ing is heard. In the third stage moist rales are heard (the return 

 rale). The general condition: Varies greatly with the case. In 

 mild attacks the appetite may be retained and the mind little per- 

 turbed. In severe cases there is no appetite while the fever is on 

 and the animal is very stupid and languid. Horses usually do not 

 lie down until the fever drops. Small animals and even ponies lie 

 down most of the time during the disease, and if only one lung is 

 affected, on the diseased side. The urine is scanty and high colored 

 until the fall of the fever, when its specific gravity drops, and the 

 quantity, voided frequently, greatly increases. 



DIAGNOSIS 



Pnuemonia may be distinguished from pleuritis by listening, 

 and sounding with the finger. In cases complicated with pleuritis 

 dift'erentiation may be impossible. However, pleuritis is usually 

 bilateral, the upper margin of the zone of dullness on percussion 

 is horizontal and the resistence under the hammer pronounced. In 

 pleuritis there is a further tendency for swelling to form in pendent 

 parts of the body. Cough is usually absent in pleuritis ; present in 

 pneumonia. A test puncture of the thorax may be made in doubt- 

 ful cases. 



COMPLICATIONS 



(1) Heart weakness due to cloudy swelling. The heart beat is 

 fast, arythmic, and palpitating. The pulse may be weak and runs 

 about 76. The patient is weak, may be cyanotic, superficial veins 

 distended. 



(2) Pleuritis : A common complication, leading to eft'usion 

 in the chest, displacement of the heart, characteristic difficulty in 

 breathing. (See Pleuritis.) 



(3) Gangrene of the lung: May develop during convalescence. 

 The temperature again rises, the patient continues to lose flesh, and 

 the expirium assumes a sweetish, fetid odor. 



(4) Further but less common complications are : Nephritis 

 (albumen in urine), jaundice (catarrh of duodendum), tendovagin- 

 ities (leg-swelling and lameness), founder (laminities), cerebral and 

 meningeal symptoms. Purpura hemorrhagica may occur during 

 convalescence. 



