PLEUR1TIS— PLEURISY 63 



(103°-105° F.) and a small, weak and thready pulse. Cough 

 appears early, is usually dry, and on account of the pain, is 

 partially suppressed. The gait is stiff and they show con- 

 siderable pain when moved. There is little or no appetite, 

 but as a rule the thirst is intense. The visible mucous mem- 

 branes are reddened and congested, and in cases where there 

 is much exudation the membranes are cyanotic. Constipa- 

 tion is often noted, the feces being quite dry and hard. The 

 urine, while the exudate is forming, is voided in small quanti- 

 ties and contains albumin. Later as it is absorbed the urine 

 is increased in amount and of very light color. 



Dyspnea is quite marked in nearly all cases of pleuritis. 

 In the early stages when the pleura is dry, the respirations 

 are superficial, rapid and painful, but after exudation takes 

 place they are less painful but labored. When bilateral the 

 animal usually assumes a sitting posture, but when only one 

 side is affected, will lie on the affected side. These positions 

 are assumed to assist in fixing the intercostal muscles to 

 relieve the pain which accompanies the elevation and depres- 

 sion of the ribs. The abdominal type of respiration is used, 

 the elbows being held outwardly and the abdominal muscles 

 and the diaphragm brought into action. There is less ex- 

 pansion on the affected side on account of the pain; when 

 both sides are affected the ribs are held in a fixed position. 

 Palpation of affected parts produces acute pain. 



Percussion. Dulness which gradually rises as the fluid 

 accumulates in the cavity. The upper line of dulness is 

 horizontal and varies with the position of the animal. Above 

 the level of the accumulated fluid tympany will be noted. 



Auscultation. In the early stages when the inflamed mem- 

 brane is dry, frictional sounds are characteristic and the 

 vesicular murmur is increased, but as the exudate collects 

 the sounds become less distinct or blowing in character, and 

 finally only the bronchial tones will be audible. 



In the chronic form all the acute symptoms are modified 

 with slight, if any general disturbance, although the tempera- 

 ture may be variable, changing daily from below to above 

 normal (100°-103° F.). 



Auscultation gives negative results. Pleuritic adhesions 

 cannot be diagnosed during life. 



