Acute Congestion of the Lungs. Pulmonary Hyper cemia. 237 



feeding, and entirely out of condition often suffers in the same 

 way, in going perhaps for the veterinarian in case of urgent colic 

 in one of its fellows. Cruzel draws attention to similar conges- 

 tions from over-exertion in fat cattle, aud Trasbot in wild stags 

 and hogs when beechnuts and acorns were abundant, in pampered 

 family horses and in plethoric farm animals generally. Excess- 

 ive heat (heat apoplexy) is invoked as a cause, and the arrest of 

 hsematosis and consequent stagnation in the pulmonary capil- 

 laries are undoubtedly accessory causes, yet the majority of 

 cases, and the most typical and fatal, occur in the winter season 

 (the hunting season). On the other hand, chills from rains or 

 cold draughts, especially when heated and exhausted, are com- 

 mon causes, and the disease often comes on more gradually, 

 attaining its acme after five or six hours. A horse perspiring 

 after a hard drive and left to face a cold blast unblanketed, or one 

 plunged by accident into ice cold water for ten minutes (Trasbot) 

 are examples of this kind. These cases are ushered in by violent 

 rigors, whereas in those due to over-exertion this is much less 

 marked and is usually only suggested by the coldness of surface 

 and extremities. Another condition which contributes to pul- 

 monary congestion is a full stomach. The plenitude of the ab- 

 dominal organs leads to compression of the lungs and hampered 

 circulation, and when to this is added over-exertion and exhaus- 

 tion acute congestion is speedily induced. 



Acute congestions are noticed as an accompaniment of other 

 diseases, but these are mostly either the localization in the lung 

 of a specific morbid process (anthrax, influenza, distemper, 

 strangles) , or it is due to auto-poisoning, as when the cutaneous 

 transpiration is suppressed by a coating of glue, or to embolism. 



Symptoms. In the horse which fails under severe exertion 

 there are the dilated nostrils, the labored breathing, the deep, 

 almost convulsive action of the flanks, the hanging on the reins, 

 the slacking of the pace, the unsteadiness of ga,it, and lastly the 

 fall. There may now be noticed the protruded bloodshot eyes, 

 the agonized expression of countenance, the extended head, the 

 pallor, and later the blueness of the nasal mucous membrane, the 

 short, panting breathing, accompanied by a roaring noise alike in 

 inspiration and expiration, and the small, weak, rapid pulse often 

 imperceptible at the jaw. If the animal has been stopped short 



