68 VETERUSrAKY MEDICINE AND SURGEKY. 



PNEUMONIA. 



Synonyms. — Inflammation of the lungs; Lung fever. 



Definition. — Pneumonia is inflammation of all the substance of the 

 lungs. 



Etiology. — Chill while hot and perspiring; sudden changes of tem- 

 perature; badly ventilated stables. Pneumonia frequently supervenes on 

 bronchitis. 



Symptoms. — Sometimes the attack comes on very suddenly without 

 any observable premonitory symptoms. At other times it starts almost 

 imperceptibly, the animal being only slightly off his feed and his mouth 

 hot. The attack is generally ushered in by sudden fits of shivering, fol- 

 lowed by coldness of the ears and extremities and other usual signs of 

 inflammation, and a staring coat. The coldness of the extremities is a 

 marked sign throughout the disease. The horse is evidently uneasy, and 

 turns his head frequently round to his chest. The joulse is accelerated 

 and generally averages about eighty beats in the minute, at the com- 

 mencement. The temperature in the early stage will be 103 to 10G° P. 



The nasal linings are paler than usual, but as the disease progresses, 

 they become purplish, and then of a leaden hue. The respiration be- 

 comes disturbed as soon as the disease is established. 



A very prominent symptom which marks this disease consists in the 

 horse persistently standing with his fore-legs wide apart and his elbows 

 out. He retains this position because it affords greater expansion to tlit 

 chest, and therefore greater ease, than any other position. Horses af- 

 fected with this disease or with pleuro-pneumonia are said never to lie 

 down, except it be for a moment at a time or in extremis, when death 

 from suffocation in general rapidly supervenes. 



Cough may or may not be present. If present, it is sharp in the first 

 instance, but as the attack progresses, it becomes of a dry and dull char- 

 acter. 



According to Williams, there is some degree of constipation, but the 

 faeces are mixed with flakes of mucus; the bowels are irritated, and do 

 not tolerate purgatives. 



With increase of the disease the breathing becomes quicker and more 

 labored, although in pneumonia uncomplicated with pleurisy there is 



