Contagious Pneumonia in the Horse. 139 



Treatment. Hygienic measures are of prime importance in 

 treatment. A dry, clean box stall with pure air, and genial 

 warmth (60° — 70° F. ) — in warm summer weather outdoor air — 

 must be secured. In cold weather a sunny outlook, and cloth- 

 ing — blanket, bandages, and it may be a hood — to counteract any 

 sensation of chill. Tepid drinks, pure water changed often, lin- 

 seed tea, barley water, are of importance in allaying thirst, 

 lowering temperature and favoring elimination. Absolute rest is 

 all essential. Keeping at work after the onset of the disease is 

 nearly equivalent to signing the patient's death warrant. 



The high temperature at the outset of the disease seems to de- 

 mand antipyretics, and in times past, in Southern Europe especi- 

 ally, bleeding was a constant resort. But even under favorable con- 

 ditions this does not lower the temperature more than 1.5° F., 

 and the resulting debility is such that it has been long discarded 

 in Germany, England and America. In cases of acute exten- 

 sive pulmonary congestion it is helpful in relieving the vascular 

 tension on the lungs and allowing the tissues to better reassert 

 their natural functions, in antagonism with invading microbes 

 and their poisons, but even this action is transient, and when it 

 saves life it is probably only by tiding over safely a very transient 

 and urgent danger. 



The same decline of temperature can usually be secured by 

 injections of cool water into the rectum, and with the added ad- 

 .vantage that this relaxes the bowels, and removes dried irritant 

 masses from the rectum and floating colon. 



As in other pneumonias the application of cold to the skin is 

 liable to bring on a chill unless the temperature is very high. 

 A safer and hardly less effective method is to apply around the 

 chest a thin blanket or sheet wrung out of tepid water and cover 

 it closely with dry blankets holding these close to the skin by 

 elastic circingles. No part of the damp compress must be al- 

 lowed to remain exposed to the air under pain of causing chill. 

 Damp cotton wool applied next the skin tends to maintain its 

 contact by its own elasticity, so that it requires less care in the 

 elastic dry covering outside it. This moist warmth draws a free 

 circulation of blood to the skin, so that it is cooled and sent back 

 internally to cool the burning fever, without sensation of chill. 

 The abstraction of this large mass of blood to the skin, acts like 



