Diseases of the Respiratory Organs. 179 



resonance over the lower and posterior borders of the lungs. 

 The right side of the heart may be enlarged and easily felt 

 beating behind the right elbow. 



Treatment is not very satisfactory in cases of old standing. 

 Feeding should be mainly of soft mashes, roots and other 

 laxative agents, but never bulky. Linseed, oat, barley or corn 

 meal may be given wet and hay replaced by corn-stalks or 

 good fresh grass. Finally give tonics, mainly arsenite of 

 strychnia, or sulphate of iron or copper and tannic acid. 

 Muriate, carbonate or benzoate of ammonia is often valuable. 



ACUTE CONGESTION OF THE LUNGS IN HOESES. 



This is always the first stage of Pneumonia but may oc- 

 cur in a sudden and fatal form from overexertion in fat or 

 otherwise ill-conditioned horses. An animal that has stood 

 idle in the stable or has been rapidly fattened for sale, when 

 taken out and driven or ridden at the top of his speed soon 

 hangs heavily on the bit, slackens his speed, and if not stopped, 

 staggers and falls ; or the exertion is passed through but the 

 animal is seized when returned to the stable. He then stands 

 with dilated nostrils, quick, labored, convulsive, wheezy 

 breathing, extended head, staring bloodshot eyes, agonized 

 expression, deep red or blue nasal membrane, and rapid, weak 

 pulse often almost imperceptible at the jaw. Auscultation 

 detects a loud respiratory murmur and the finest possible 

 crepitating sound. The heart is felt behind the left elbow 

 beating tumultuously and the limbs are cold, though perspira- 

 tion may break out at different parts of the body. If blood 

 is drawn it flows in a dark, tarry-looking stream and the 

 lungs after death might be compared to a dark-red jelly. 



Treatment. Remove girths, saddles, and whatever may 

 hamper breathing, turn the head to the wind, give an active 

 stimulant (alcohol or alcoholic liquors, ammonia or any of 

 its compounds, oil of turpentine, ether, sweet spirits of nitre, 

 ginger, pepper), the first that comes to hand, in a full dose, 

 following up with warm water injections and active hand- 

 rubbing. In extreme cases prompt relief may often be ob- 

 tained by bleeding from the jugular, but this should not re- 



