PATHO&NOMONIC SYMPTOMS. 135 



Spasm of the larynx is frequently a sequence of laryngitis ; 

 sometimes it occurs as a primary affection. The attack fre- 

 quently manifests itself suddenly, and sometimes gradually. 



The symptoms of the disease, when the attack is violent, are 

 the pulse is weak and tremulous ; the eyebaUs have a wUd, 

 staring, haggard look ; the surface of the body is hot, and 

 covered with an abundant and steaming perspiration ; the 

 motions of the animal are uncertain and turbulent ; the breath' 

 ing is violent and difficult, and as the closure or spasm of the 

 larynx increases, the violence of the respiratory act becomes 

 more vehement and alarming. The breathing is attended with 

 a harsh, rasping sound ; sometimes it is closely similar to the 

 noise elicited by sawing wood, and sometimes it.becomes sharp 

 and shriU, like the sound of a trumpet. The affection is remit- 

 tent, and not unfrequently the attack will commence with the 

 rasping noise, and gradually increase in severity, imtil the shriU 

 trumpet sound is heard, when the violence either remains sta- 

 tionary for some time, and afterwards subsides ; or, should it 

 increase in severity, and relief be not promptly afforded, the 

 patient will die of suffocation. 



If we analyze the above symptoms, we find some which are 

 common to a number of diseases and states of the organism, 

 and some peculiar to the disease in question. A weak and 

 tremulous pulse is present in epidemic catarrh, typhoid pneu- 

 monia, and other diseases. The surface of the hody hot, and 

 covered with an abundant and steaming perspiration : — This is 

 a state of the skin common to the animal in health immediately 

 after having undergone severe exertion, and very likely has 

 been observed hundreds of times by every individual conversant 

 with horses. Breathing violent a/nd difficult : — These are symp- 

 toms which are present in broken wind, temporary spasm of 

 the air cells of the lungs, inflammation of the lujQgs, and in 



