INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS 53 



Fibrinous Pneumonia (Lung Fever, Croupous Pneumonia). 

 — ^Definition. — An inflammation of the lung characterized 

 by its typical course, and the formation of fibrinous coagulse 

 in the alveoli of the invaded area. It affects the lobe rather 

 than the lobule. 



Etiology. — ^The existence of fibrinous pneumonia as a 

 primary disease in animals is open to question. At any 

 rate it has not been proved. 



In the horse it is usually expressive of infectious fibrinous 

 pneiunonia although it may accompany strangles or pvirpura 

 hemorrhagica. 



In the ox it most commonly is noted as a symptom of 

 hemorrhagic septicemia due to the Bacterium bovisepticum.' 

 It also occurs from foreign bodies entering the lung from the 

 reticulum, the aspiration of ingesta in choke or when the 

 pharynx is paralyzed. 



In swine it is a symptom of hemorrhagic septicemia (swine 

 plague), and anthrax. A mixed fibrinous and catarrhal pneu- 

 monia may occiu- in swine due to the aspiration of medicine 

 unskilfully given as a drench (melted lard). 



In sheep fibrinous pneumonia is seen in hemorrhagic 

 septicemia (Bacterimn ovisepticum). 



Cold, the inhalation of irritant gases, smoke, steam, etc., 

 great exhaustion from overwork, casting, tying the head of 

 the horse too high, etc., are merely predisposing factors in the 

 etiology of fibrinous pneumonia. 



Symptoms. — ^The onset of the disease is usually sudden. 

 Without warning the patient is seized with fever, which in a 

 few hours J in the horse, may reach 104° to 106° F. The 

 patient is stupid, languid, and loses appetite. In some 

 cases a pronounced chill ushers in the disease sjinptoms. 

 The fever is of the continuous type remaining up for seven 

 to nine days when it drops rapidly to normal (by crisis), 

 or on the third or fourth day may begin to gradually decline 

 reaching normal in four to eight days following (by lysis). 

 Cough is short, painful, and frequently restrained. At 

 first it is dry, later moist in character. Nasal discharge 



' In these oases the pneumonia is a mixture of catarrhal and fibrinous and 

 the course of the disorder is atypical. 



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