BRONCHITIS. 186 



quently an obstinate refusal to do so ; cough painful in the 

 extreme ; breath hot, yet no marked pain in the part, and no 

 looking at the side or flanks. 



As the disease proceeds, there will be considerable discharge 

 from the nostrils, much more than in catarrh, because greater 

 extent of membrane is affected. It will be muco-purulent at 

 first, but wUl soon become amber-colored or green, or grayish 

 green ; and that not from any portion of the food being returned, 

 but from the peculiar hue of the secretion from ulcers in th< 

 bronchial passages. Small organized pieces will mingle with 

 the discharge, — ^portions of mucus condensed and hardened, and 

 forced from the inside of the tube. If the disease proceeds, the 

 discharge becomes bloody, and then, and sometimes earlier, it is 

 fetid. 



The natural termination of this disease, if unchecked, is in 

 pnexunonia. 



Like every other inflammation of the respiratory passages, 

 bronchitis is clearly epidemic. It has not, however, yet been 

 proved to be contagious. 



Here again the first step will be to bleed ; and here too will 

 be the paramount necessity of the personal attendance of some 

 well-informed person while the animal is bled. This is a disease 

 of a mucous — and an extended mucous surface ; and while oui 

 measures must be prompt, there is a tendency to debility which 

 we should never forget. Although the horse may be distressed 

 quite to the extent which Mr. Percivall describes, yet he would 

 not bear the loss of four pounds of blood without fainting. No 

 determinate quantity of blood will therefore be taken, but the 

 vein wiU not be closed until the pulse falters, and the animal 

 staggers, and in a minute or two would fall. This may proba- 

 bly effect the desired object ; if it does not, it is possible that 

 the practitioner may not have a second opportunity. 



The medical attendant should be cautious in the administra- 

 tion of purgatives, for the reasons that have again and again 

 been stated ; but if the bowels are evidently constipated, small 

 doses of aloes must be given with the febrifuge rAedicine, and 

 their speedy action promoted by injections, so that a small 

 quantity may suflfice. 



A blister is always indicated in bronchitis. It can never do 

 harm, and it not unfrequently affords decided relief It should 

 extend over the brisket and sides, and up the trachea to th« 

 larynx. The food, if the horse is disposed to eat, should -be 

 mashes. No grain should be offered, nor should the horse be 

 coaxed to eat.* 



* Note hy Mr. Spooner. — In addition to the treatment mentioned in the 

 text, the use of setons in the brisket, ^ir as near the termination of t'lie 



