560 CEOUP. 



trance of blood-vessels into its substance has never been 

 demonstrated. The false membrane in pleuritic cases is. 

 essentially coagulated lymph, having the tough quality, the 

 fibrous structure, and, when treated with acids, the charac- 

 teristic reactions of fibrine. The croupous exudation, on the 

 contrary, seems more allied to albumen ; it is very brittle, is 

 destitute of the fibrous network, and shrivels up when treated 

 with dilute sulphuric acid. If complicated with pneumonia 

 or bronchitis, the lesions resulting from these maladies will 

 be superadded to those proper to the croupous affection. 



"The treatment of croup must be energetic, and should 

 be adopted without loss of time. The great tendency to low 

 fever entirely precludes bleeding, except in the very early 

 stages. The animal should be kept in as equable a tem- 

 perature as possible, somewhat elevated, and with a some- 

 what moist atmosphere, but without any impurity. Such 

 a measure is much more beneficial than heavy clothing, 

 which interferes with the motion of the chest, and aggra- 

 vates the embarrassed respiration. Light clothing should, 

 however, be adopted, and especially should the limbs be 

 kept warm. The action of the bowels may be solicited; 

 in the case of the carnivora, however, this may be ad- 

 vantageously preceded by emesis. This latter measure has 

 been found highly beneficial in loosening and favouring 

 the expectoration of false membranes. A warm bath often 

 proves eminently serviceable in relaxing spasm, and in 

 alleviating the general morbid condition. These measures 

 may be followed up by febrifuge medicines, as potassio- 

 tartrate of antimony, with the nitrate or acetate of potass, 

 or the liquor of the acetate of ammonia, given in water, or, 

 better, in linseed decoction. When the fever is of a typhous 

 character, and the powers of the system reduced, stimulants 

 are urgently called for. Wine whey, sulphuric ether, or 



