364 DISEASES OF BREATHING. 



relief of oppression on heart and lungs, and by the skin becoming 

 moist from perspiration. Whether our drink be tea, oofEee, beer, 

 shandy-gaff, or whisky and soda, the chief benefit will be derived 

 from the water contained in it. A small amount of alcohol will 

 act as a stimulant to the superficial circulation. Giving a hunter, 

 wliile he is out, a small drink of water from time to time, as may 

 be convenient, will actj very beneficially in safeguarding him fron) 

 tlie ill effects of a long and trying day. During his journey home, 

 the pace should be so regulated between walking and slow trotting, 

 that he will return to his stable perfectly cool, and with the circular 

 tion of his blood thoroughly equalised throughout his body. If 

 this cannot be done, the groom should walk him about, after the 

 horse ha^ come back, until a similar effect has been obtained. 

 When he is taken into his stable, friction, by means of hand- 

 rubbing or a wisp, should be freely applied to his skin, and he 

 should be warmly clothed, warm bandages being put on if 

 necessary ; but the legs should not be washed. The ventilation 

 should be perfect, but without any draughts. Indirect congestion 

 of the lungs is most common among unfit hunters which have to 

 return to their stables by rail, as is usually the case with those 

 animals whose owners live in large towns during the hunting 

 season. 



SYMPTOMS.— The animal uses every effort to breathe. He 

 stands with his fore legs wide apart, his head f.tretched out, his 

 nostrils dilated, and he breathes with great rapidity ; while his 

 wild look, heaving flanks, bloodshot eyes, and trembling and 

 sweating body denote the utmost distress. His legs and ears are 

 cold. The lining membrane of his eyelids and nostrils is of a more 

 or less purple colour, on account of its vessels being filled with 

 non-oxidised blood, which the lungs have been unable to purify. 

 The veins over the surface of the body appear swollen. It often 

 happens that some of the congested vessels of the air passages give 

 way, and th»re is bleeding of the nose. The pulse is extremely 

 weak, though frequent ; and the artery feels very full. After a 

 time, the animal becomes more or less insensible, from the action 

 of the impure blood on the nerve centres. 



Cases of pulmonary congestion occurring in connection with 

 other diseases, although the symptoms exhibited are seemingly less 

 severe, are more generally fatal than when appearing as the result 

 of over-exertion. 



Congestion of the lungs is frequently followed by inflammation 

 of the lungs. 



POST-MORTEM APPEARANCES.— The lungs are swollen, dark- 



