INS-ECTIOUS DISEASES. 525 



a quantity of fluid blood from a hemorrhage, which proves fatal. 

 The discharge is fetid to the. smell. The animal emaciates rapidly. 

 On examination of the lungs mucous rales are heard in the larger 

 bronchi, cavities may be found at any part of these organs, and 

 points of lobular pneumonia may be detected. 



A very serious complication is an inflammation of the heart muscle. 

 This is shown by a very weak and rapid pulse, great prostration, 

 some filling of the lungs. This complication nearly always termi- 

 nates in death. Other complications which may be mentioned are 

 inflammation of the kidneys, blood poisoning, congestion of the brain, 

 and inflammation of the tendinous sheaths and the tendons of the 

 legs. 



Diagnosis. — As fever is the first symptom of infectious pneumonia, 

 it is useful dviring an outbreak of this disease to make daily temper- 

 ature measurements of the exposed horses, so that the first indication 

 of disease may be discovered and the horse removed from contact 

 with those that are sound. 



Prognosis. — ^The mortality in this disease may be as high as 25 

 per cent, but it is usually not more than 10 per cent. If there is 

 a special tendency to complications of some sort, the mortality is 

 increased. 



Alterations. — At the time of death from infectious pneumonia we 

 frequently find septic changes and the evidences of putrefaction. The 

 solidification of the limg tissue is found irregular in shape and high 

 around the root of the lungs and the large bronchi, and is generally 

 covered by sound lung tissue. The anterior lobes of the lungs are 

 usually entirely affected. The diseased portion appears of a gray- 

 yellowish color, somewhat watery, and tears readily. Matter is found 

 in the air tubes which form gutters through the jelly like mass of the 

 diseased lung. Abscesses from the size of a nut to larger masses may 

 be found throughout the lungs. The blood is dark in color, fluid, or 

 only clotted into soft, jellylike masses. Masses of gangrenous or 

 dead-black tissue may be present. 



Treatment. — Bleeding is not to be used, because it would only still 

 further weaken an already enfeebled animal ; antimony or the alter- 

 ants would increase the depression of a too-depraved constitution. 

 There is in this disease no acute congestion of a particular organ to 

 draw off by depletive measures, nor any violent blood current to be 

 retarded, for fear of hypernutrition of any special part. 



Eevulsives do good, as they excite the nervous system and awaken 

 the torpor of the weakened blood vessels, which aid in the reestab- 

 lishment of the functions. As in other diseases, mustard poultices 

 may be applied over the belly and sides of the chest, but caution must 

 be used in the employment of blisters, as ugly ulcers may result from 

 their action on a tissue of weakened vitality. Setons are dangerous 



