138 Veterinary Medicine. 



the throat or breast, the windpipe being left untouched lest 

 tracheotomy should be required. Similar applications to the legs 

 are useful. 



If suffocation appears imminent, tracheotomy should be at once 

 performed (see under lyaryngitis). This operation has been de- 

 preciated because of the late period at which it has been employed, 

 when the patient was already past all hope, but the resulting 

 wound in the neck is more than counterbalanced by the greater 

 freedom of breathing and the better aeration of the blood which 

 tends to obviate the justly dreaded low fever. It often leads to a 

 rapid diminution of the spasms and laryngeal irritation. 



Agents applied directly to the inflamed mucous membrane are 

 often requisite. The air of the building should be rather warm, 

 equable and moistened by water vapor, if that can be conveniently 

 done. Calomel or alum powder may be frequently introduced 

 into the larynx by means of a whalebone probe and sponge as 

 spoken of under laryngitis, or a solution of nitrate of silver (10 

 grains to the ounce of water) may be applied several times a day. 

 These not only hasten the removal of false membranes but 

 counteract their production. They produce violent and convul- 

 sive coughing at first and have to be used carefully. Delafond 

 blew in such agents through an opening made in the windpipe. 

 They may be injected with a hypodermic syringe. In prostrate 

 conditions it may be necessary to resort to stimulants (wine whey, 

 carbonate of ammonia) and tonics (gentian, Peruvian bark). 



PSEUDO- MEMBRANEOUS LARYNGITIS : CROUP IN SHEEP. 



According to Roche lyubin, croup is sometimes observed in 

 spring in lanibs and yearlings. The common cause is ' ' the 

 shutting up of the animals for the whole twenty- four hours in a 

 hot confined place, the floor of which is covered by a fine dust, 

 and the air loaded with the same, owing to the jostling of the 

 sheep together, the effects being intensified by the weight of the 

 fleeces. ' ' 



The disease is manifested by constant working of the jaws, ex- 

 treme tension of the neck, abundant salivation, respiration hur- 

 ried and whistling, extreme pain and threatened suffocation when 

 the slightest pressure is made on the throat, and refusal of all 



