.■"HK.O'fl'C COUGH. 193 



OnRONIC COXJGtt 



It would occupy too much space to treat all the causes of this 

 obstinate cough. Irritability of the air-passages, occasioned by 

 previous inflammation, is the most frequent. It is sometimes 

 connected with worms ; it is sometimes caused by glanders. It 

 is the necessary attendant of thick or broken wind. 



If a harsh hollow cough is accompanied by a staring coat, and 

 the appearance of worms, — a few worm-balls may expel the 

 worms, and remove the irritation of the intestinal canal. If it pro- 

 ceeds ftom irritability of the air-passages, which will be discov- 

 ered by the horse coughing after drinking, or when he first goes 

 out of tne stable in the morning, or by his occasionally snorting 

 out thicK mucus from the nose, medicines may be given, and 

 sometimes with advantage, to diminish irritation generally. 

 Small doscis of digitalis, emetic tartar, and nitre, administered 

 every nignt, frequently have a beneficial effect, especially when 

 mixed witn car, which seems to have a powerful influence in 

 allaying the irritation. These balls should, if necessary, be reg- 

 ularly given lor a considerable time. They are sufficiently pow 

 erful to quiet slight excitement of this kind, but not to nauseate 

 the horse, or interfere with his food or his work. A blister, 

 extending from the root of one ear to that of the other, taking in 

 the whole of tne chaimel, and reaching six or eight inches down 



ence that these nice discriminations can be made ; it is therefore the height 

 of folly for the intipcrienced owner to attempt to treat such cases himself 



When plemisy a&d pneumonia are combined, the symptoms, though ex- 

 tremely severe, are yet very obscure, and the chances of successful treatment 

 are much diminished. Tne water in the chest spoken of in the text, is the 

 termination of pleurisy, and becomes fatal in a majority of cases (particu- 

 larly if, in addition to this serous fluid, flakes of lymph are also thrown out). 

 In some cases where water in the chest has supervened early, and the inflam- 

 mation has otherwise subsided, relief has been obtained by tapping. 



Wp have little to add with regard to the treatment of these inflamma- 

 tory diseases, except that we do not approve of the many repeated bleed- 

 ings advised in the text. It is rarely the case that more than one bleeding 

 is desirable, but this in general should be very copious. The best guide as 

 to the propriety of bleeding is the strength of the pulse and not its frequency. 

 If some hours after the first bleeding the pulse is still strong and full, as 

 well as quick, then bleeding is most probably called for again, and more 

 particularly if the blood has exhibited a thick buffy coat. If the first bleed- 

 ing has exhibited no bulf on tlie surface, then a repetition of bleeding is 

 rarely demanded. Aloes should be always eschewed, and diuretics should 

 not be continued after twelve drachms, or two ounces of nitre or resin have 

 been taken. We have also found very good effects from the administration 

 of small doses of calomel and opium, twice a day, two scruples of the for- 

 mer, and one of the latter, being sufiicient for a dose ; and we have also 

 found an ounce or two of the spirit of nitrous ether very serviceable in the 

 early stage of tlic disease, particularly if the legs and ears are cold 

 13 I 



