70 DISEASES OF THE PLEURA 



Treatment. — ^As the primary condition is usually .incur- 

 able, little can be done in hydrothorax. In great dyspnea, 

 thoracentesis will afford relief. 



PNEUMOTHORAX. 



Definition. — The entrance of air into the pleural sacs. It 

 is rarely due to other gases. 



Etiology. — (a) Penetrating wounds through the outer 

 wall of the chest or through the diaphragm (from the reti- 

 culum). (6) Rupture of the esophagus from the rough use 

 of the probang. (c) Abscesses or gangrenous foci in the 

 lungs which rupture opening bronchi into communication 

 with the pleural sacs, (d) In rare instances rupture of the 

 lung may be a cause. 



Symptoms. — Severe dyspnea, which develops usually 

 rapidly and may lead to death in twenty-four hours (pul- 

 monary collapse), or from the microorganisms carried in 

 by the air a purulent pleuritis (empyema) , develops. The . 

 sound on percussion has a peculiar metallic ring which is 

 usually heard over the whole chest. Pleuritis develops in 

 mosf cases which modifies the percussion sound. On auscul- 

 tation often no sounds are audible. If fluid is present 

 metallic gurgling sounds are heard. 



Diagnosis. — ^Usually not difficult in veterinary patients, 

 as most cases are due to penetrating chest wounds. 



Course and Prognosis. — Usually leads to pleuritis and 

 death. Cases not due to wound infection, such as may 

 follow rupture of the lung, can recover. 



Treatment.-^In human practice the air is pumped out of 

 the pleural sacs by a special apparatus. Seldom useful in 

 veterinary practice. 



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