INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNOS 61 



and germs of putrefaction there result purulent infiltration, 

 necrosis and decomposition of the lung tissue. Therefore 

 gangrene, abscess and putrefaction are found combined, 

 changing the lung into a miscolored, fetid, odorous, smeary 

 mass. By contact the pleura also becomes involved so 

 that a purulent or putrid pleuritis is present. More rarely 

 there may be pneumothorax. 



Symptoms. — The onset in foreign body pneumonia is 

 usually insidious and may be entirely overlooked especially 

 by the owner or attendant. The disease begins as a bron- 

 chitis and bronchopneumonia (cough, rales) . When gangrene 

 sets in the expirium has a sweetish odor which later becomes 

 fetid. Soon nasal discharge appears which is discolored and 

 contains an admixture of lung tissue elements. On percus- 

 sion,' depending upon the character and extent of the lesions, 

 there may be flatness, tympany, or even a "cracked-pot" 

 tone emitted. The patient shows a septic fever and rapid, 

 weak, pulse (80 to 120) . Symptoms of pleuritis (empyema) 

 are not infrequent. In many cases the appetite remains 

 fairly good until the end and the temperature may be 

 little above normal. 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis depends upon the physical 

 signs of pneumonia with fetid expirium and the discolored 

 nasal discharge containing bits of dead lung tissue. A 

 microscopic examination will show elastic fibers from the 

 parenchyma of the lung. In all pneumonias following 

 unskilful drenching or where dysphagia exists foreign 

 body pneumonia should be suspected. From the stand- 

 point of differential diagnosis, diseases of the teeth and 

 sinuses of the head causing fetid breath must be considered. 

 An examination of these parts and of the lungs should 

 suffice, for differentiation. Fetid bronchitis, which is most 

 common in dogs, does not affect the general condition of 

 the patient and is rarely fatal. 



Course and Prognosis. — Once the disease is recognized the 

 course is usually about one week. The prognosis is bad 

 especially in horses, the disease leading to sapremia and 

 death. Occasionally in cattle the gangrenous mass remains 

 local in the lung and becomes encapsuled by connective 



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