498 



moderate and only affected during an excess of coughing, or in compli- 

 cated cases. The i)ulse undergoes but little quickening. The tempera- 

 ture rises rapidly to 39^, 40°, and in some cases even to 41.5° C (107^° F). 

 The latter temperature usually, but not always, indicates complication 

 by pleurisy. In ordinary cases the temperature drops in two or three 

 days after the appearance of the cough. The hide is dry and rough, 

 with the hairs on end, but the horse appears rather as an animal out of 

 condition, than a sick one. Emaciation may be rapid. The mucous 

 membranes are moderately reddened. The appetite is diminished, but 

 the animal chews constantly. Deglutition, either of food or water, is 

 frequently the cause of spasms of coughing, and these in turn seem to 

 warn the animal against attempts at swallowing. On percussion no 

 alteration of resonance is to be detected. On auscultation of the lungs 

 mucous rales are heard, with at times tubular breathing j the latter, 

 however, we will study under the complications, as also the friction 

 warning of pleurisy. Throughout the course of the disease we have 

 still one constant and characteristic symi^tom — nervous irritability. 

 With temperature of 104° to 107°F., the horse still flinches to the touch 

 on the loins ; it stands frequently with the head up, and it is on the 

 alert for the entrance of any one to the stall. The previously good tem- 

 pered and quiet horse will turn and bite, will strike with the hind legs, 

 or at the first touch to the side, head, or throat will half rear and back 

 into the corner of the box, or breaking the halter turn backward out 

 of the stall. 



The course of the disease is from five to eight days, but the cough 

 maj" continue for two or three weeks with variable elevation of tempera- 

 ture. As a stable plague the course is from two to three mouths, as 

 the contagion is much more uncertain than in strangles or influenza. 

 The termination is by resolution and recovery, or by complications. In 

 resolution the temperature drops, the cough becomes less frequent and 

 less spasmodic in character, the appetite returns, and no sign is left of 

 the disease except the fever mark on the hoof. 



The complications are excessive spasms and pleurisy. In the former 

 the cough may be so violent as to convulse the whole animal, the legs 

 arc spread and fixed, with the hind ones drawn slightly under the body. 

 The head and neck are extended, with the muscles tense. The cough 

 comes out by rapidly succeeding efforts, or with the first sound the 

 larynx seems to close for a moment before the rest can follow. In two 

 cases of my own the spasm has been so great that the animal has fallen 

 to the ground. During these accesses the respiration bccomos acceler- 

 ated, and on auscultation of the trachea and lungs the tubular murmur 

 of an apparent pneumonia can be heard. This false murmur, however, 

 disappears at the end of the attack. In the case which fell to the ground 

 the horse would lie for a moment or two absolutely motionless. (In the 

 first I believed that he had broken his neck.) The rapid respiration was 

 then followed by a long inspiration, the animal regained his feet, the 



