PNEUMONIA 77 



as will have a tendency to prevent complications and 

 disagreeable sequelaa. 



3. To shorten the period of convalescence. 



Under 1 : Stimulants, tonics, hygiene, suitable diet, 

 nursing. 



Under 2: Bacterins, serums. 



Under 3 : Alteratives. 



The clinical evidence, and the post-mortem findings in 

 fatal cases, absolutely rule out depressants in the treat- 

 ment of pneumonia. This evidence demonstrates con- 

 clusively that nearly all antipyretics are heart depres- 

 sants and they are therefore contra-indicated. 



In my own practice I start the handling of every case 

 of pneumonia with a counter-irritant, usually a common 

 mustard plaster. While I can not point out any good or 1 

 authoritative reason for this use of a counter-irritant, i 

 I do know that it has much good in it. This good effect 

 may be only of a transient character; one would almost 

 dare say that it was psychological in character. Never- 

 theless, it is very evident, and very promptly so. Im- 

 mediately after the application of a good mustard plaster 

 there is a change in the patient ; it seems to put him into 

 shape for the fight he is about to enter. Case after case 

 I have had in which the horse, in my opinion, owed his 

 recovery from the attack of pneumonia to this old-fash- 

 ioned mustard plaster, more than anything else. 



As routine internal medication, nux vomica or strych- 

 nin must be given the first place. The constancy of the 

 effect produced by repeated correct doses of nux vomica 

 is very gratifying. The same effect can not be obtained 

 with strychnin alone. My method is to give from one- // 

 half to one dram of fluid extract of nux vomica every *^ 

 three hours during the day. I do not increase this dose 

 unless there are signs of an impending crisis. I then 

 give one-fourth grain strychnin sulphate hypodermically 



