58 THEORY AND PRACTICE ' 



bronchitis. Gastric flatulence in the horse is often followed by 

 acute bronchitis because of the irritation produced by vomited 

 matter falling into the air passage as it passes over the larynx 

 and descend to the bronchi. Gastric flatulence produces great 

 nervous prostration and the glottis, its nerves and muscles, are 

 depressed. In drenching a horse do not elevate his head too 

 high. It is bad practice to drench a horse through the nose. 

 Inhalations of smoke and hot air in burning stables may cause 

 bronchitis. 



Symptoms. — Bronchitis is usually ushered in with a rigor if 

 the inflammation follows exposure. The mucous membranes 

 are injected. The first stage runs a rapid course and the cough 

 is deep, hoarse and dry. The temperature is 105-107 and the 

 pulse 50, soft, full, round and regular. The respirations are 

 18-20 per minute. The stage lasts about 6 hours. 



In the second stage effusion begins with a limpid reddish 

 discharge from the nose. The expired air is hot and by auscul- 

 tation over the front of the neck at the base of the trachea a 

 loud rasping sound can be heard. In a few days the mucous 

 membranes secrete an abnormal mucous that coagulates and 

 looks like starch. In the bronchi some effusion occurs, and 

 there is a lot of mucous that does not coagulate. Mucous rales 

 can be heard at the base of the neck. The nostrils are dilated, 

 the appetite usually lost and secretions altered, and the excre- 

 tions scanty ; cough moist and suppressed, painful and made with 

 the mouth closed. 



Course. — In the first stage we find the head hung low; ears 

 drooping; visible mucous membranes red; pulse 55; respiration 

 20; temperature 106-108 according to the condition of the horse. 



In the second stage the first evidence will be a watery dis- 

 charge from the nose, while the pulse becomes rapid and softer. 

 Respiration by this time probably will get up to 24 and pulse 

 probably 60. Expiring air hot and loaded with moisture, espe- 

 cially plain if the horse is in a cold atmosphere. By this time 

 the appetite is less and the thirst probably a little increased, feces 

 inclined to be slimy, discharge from the nOse quite profuse and 

 more or less starch like, cough deep, painful and suppressed. 

 When the horse coughs he arches his back, lowers his head and 



