318 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



■mence. Sometimes tlie disease afterwards assumes a 

 chronic cliaracter. Death may result from suffocation as 

 when the effused fluid blocks up the air-passages and fills 

 the pulmonary cells, or from imperfect blood oxidation, or 

 from extension of the disease to the lungs, pleura, or 

 larynx. 



Post-mortem examination shows the air-passages blocked 

 up with frothy fluid, and their lining mucous membrane 

 discolored. The lungs have a sodden appearance, and 

 are also congested. 



Treatment must be directed to support of the strength 

 of the patient, the promotion of resolution, and the avoid- 

 ance of lapse into the chronic stage. The animal must 

 be most carefully nursed, allowed a free supply of pure 

 air, a liberal supply of tempting food, and unlimited 

 nitrated water. The air-passages must be steamed and 

 stimulating applications applied to the sides and along 

 the course of the trachea ; these must not prove excessively 

 irritating nor vesicant. When the bowels are torpid 

 enemas may be administered, but not cathartics, for 

 though, in the ox, the alimentary mucous membrane does 

 not so readily become involved, together with that of the 

 respiratory passages, as in the horse, want of judgment in 

 this respect may cause diarrhoea, and fatally tax the 

 strength of the already debilitated patient. Aconite or 

 belladonna may be used to control febrile excitement. 

 When the patient commences to rally, diffusible stimu- 

 lants with vegetable tonics will prove most beneficial. 



Chronic Bronchitis is frequent in the ox ; it sometimes 

 is a sequela of the acute form, but more frequently by far 

 results from scrofulous disorder. The lungs, in these 

 cases, non-specific as well as specific, undergo various 

 changes. The most remarkable of these are asthma, em- 

 physema, consolidation. The symptoms common to the 

 two are a persistent hacking cough, general unthriftiness, 

 and tendency to slight asthenic febrile attacks. Emacia- 

 tion becomes very marked, and the respirations are want- 

 ing in depth. The animal is unequal to the slightest 

 exertion. 



