66 THEORY AND PRACTICE 



about 30 ; nostrils slightly dilated ; spasmodic cough that is 

 usually dry but without pain ; pulse and temperature normal ; 

 coughing sometimes in spasms ; horse feels well, drives well and 

 eats like a pig — never misses a meal ; abdomen good sized, though 

 probably not over large ; animal usually in good flesh, assuming 

 that he is liberally fed and exercised every day. If the horse is 

 quiet for two or three hours you can hear a little mucous rattle at 

 the base of the trachea. This mucous rattle indicates irritation 

 of the bronchi or perhaps of the bronchioles. 



In confirmed heaves we have these symptoms : inspiration 

 normal; first half of expiration normal; second half requiring 

 additional force which is brought to bear upon the diaphragm 

 by contraction of the abdominal muscles, which throws the 

 abdominal viscera forward upon the diaphragm, pressing the 

 lungs. Concomitant with this is a firm contraction of the inter- 

 costal muscles and the second half of the tidal air is forced out 

 by mechanical pressure. Just as soon as this is accomplished 

 the abdominal muscles instantly drop back to their normal posi- 

 tion. This produces a flank movement which is characteristic 

 of heaves. If this flank movement is present you can satisfy 

 yourself that the case is one of heaves, that is incurable and that 

 there is morbid anatomy in the lungs. In chronic heaves the 

 cough is apt to be more spasmodic. Sometimes the horse will 

 cough for a minute or two without stopping. During asthmatic 

 exacerbations the nostrils are dilated and the visible mucous 

 membranes frequently become cyanotic. A chronic heaver al- 

 ways suffers more or less from chronic indigestion. This is 

 manifested by a thinness of flesh, pot belly, long coat and general 

 unthriftiness, and by breaking wind while coughing. 



Treatment. — The whole treatment should have a bearing 

 upon the pneumogastric nerve which needs its irritability 

 lessened. The following is a good prescription: 



Fl. Ex. Gelsemium 1 dram 



Lobelia 1 dram 



Chloral Hydrate (freshly dissolved) 1 dram 



Aqua 1 pint 



