124 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 
act of breathing—but the abdomen works more than natural; both 
the fore feet and elbows may be turned out; during the onset of the 
attack the animal may be restless and act as if he had a slight colic; 
he may even lie down, but does not remain long down, for when he 
finds no relief he soon gets up. After effusion begins these signs of 
restlessness disappear. Every movement of the chest causes pain; 
therefore the cough is peculiar; it is short and suppressed and comes 
as near being no cough as the animal can make it in his desire to 
suppress it. The breathing is hurried, the mouth is hot, the tem- 
perature being elevated from 102° or 103° to 105° F. Symptoms 
that usually accompany fever are present, such as costiveness, scanty, 
dark-colored urine, etc. The pulse is frequent, perhaps 70 or more 
a minute, and is hard and wiry. The legs and ears are cold. 
Percussion is of valuable service in this affection. After effusion 
occurs the sound produced by percussing over the lower part of the 
chest is dull. By striking different parts one may come to a spot of 
greater or less extent where the blows cause much pain to be evinced. 
The animal may grunt or groan every time it is struck. Another 
method of detecting the affected part is to press the fingers between 
the ribs, each space in succession, beginning behind the elbow, until 
a place where the pressure causes more flinching than at any other 
part is reached. Auscultation is also useful. In the first stage, when 
the surfaces are dry and rough, one may hear, immediately under the 
ear, a distinct sound very much like that produced by rubbing two 
pieces of coarse paper together. No such friction sound occurs when 
the membrane is healthy, as the natural moisture, heretofore men- 
tioned, prevents the friction. In many cases this friction is so pro- 
nounced that it may be felt by placing the hand over the affected 
part. When the dry stage is succeeded by the exudation of fluid this 
friction sound disappears. After the effusion into the cavity takes 
place sometimes there is heard a tinkling or metallic sound, due to 
dropping of the exudate from above into the collected fluid in the 
bottom of the cavity, as the collected fluid more or less separates the 
lung from the chest walls, 
Within two or three days the urgent symptoms may abate owing 
to the exudation of the fluid and the subsidence of the pain. The 
fluid may now undergo absorption, and the case may terminate 
favorably within a week or 10 days. 
If the quantity of the effusion is large its own volume retards the 
process of absorption to a great extent, and consequently convales- 
cence is delayed. In severe cases the pulse becomes more frequent, 
the breathing more hurried and labored, the flanks work like bellows, 
the nostrils flap, the eyes stare wildly, the countenance expresses 
much anxiety, and general signs of dissolution are plain. After a 
