56 DISEASES OF THE LUNGS 



Prognosis. — ^The prognosis is good in typical and uncompli- 

 cated cases. Of importance is the behavior of the heart 

 during the attack. A continued high pulse is dangerous to 

 the patient. The extent of the area involved has much to 

 do with the outcome of the case. If confined only to the 

 ventral portion of one lung, the danger is not so great as 

 when the dorsal part of the lung is also involved, or if both 

 lungs are diseased. When pleuritis complicates the case 

 the prognosis is naturally less favorable. 



Treatment. — ^The patient should be placed in a light, clean 

 and well-ventilated place. If feasible, keep the case out- 

 of-doors as much as possible, guarding it, of course, against 

 wind and rain. Use only light covering (in horses). The 

 legs may be bandaged (use Derby bandages with cotton 

 underneath). Eemoving the bandages once daily and 

 rubbing the legs well before re-applying is helpful. The 

 horse-patient should be groomed well each day. Feed any 

 easily digested food which the patient can be coaxed to eat. 

 Good clean oats over which a little sugar has been sprinkled 

 is often tempting to the appetite. Give only small quanti- 

 ties at a time. Before feeding syringe out the mouth with 

 clean water. If obtainable fresh grass is very palatable and 

 nutritious. A few handfuls over which is strewn a little 

 salt is often eaten with avidity. The hay should be bright 

 and free from dust. Feed about 6 pounds daily, divided 

 into three feeds. Roots (carrots, beets) and bran mashes 

 are recommended (some horses do not like bran). Eggs 

 and milk may be given if appetite is entirely gone. Keep 

 pure water constantly before the patient, and where it can 

 be gotten at without undue exertion. Rectal and artificial 

 feeding may be resorted to in patients unable to swallow or 

 without any appetite. 



Surgical. — Puncturing the thorax with a sterile trocar, 

 permitting the instrument to penetrate the inflamed lung, 

 was practised extensively in the army during the World War. 

 The operation was performed irrespective of the existence of 

 exudate in the chest cavity. The results seem to have been 

 satisfactory enough to warrant further experiment. It 

 appeared most beneficial in cases of delayed resolution. 



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