266 Veterinary Medicine. 



its flaccidity, its fetid smell and tlie altered appearance of all its; 

 microscopic elements ; it may be denoted by a putrid softening, 

 the tissue easily breaking down into a stinking pulp of mixed 

 fibrous and granular materials ; or lastly there may be merely a 

 cavity with traces of putrid contents, the dead mass having been 

 detached, disintegrated and expectorated. 



Modificatio7ts of the Blood and Distant Organs. 



A marked feature of pneumonia is the destruction of red blood 

 globules. This is early indicated in the staining of the visible 

 mucosae by the liberated haemaglobin and by actual count they 

 may be reduced in the horse from 7,500,000 to 6,000,000 per cubic- 

 millimeter (Trashot). There is an increase of white globules, 

 an absolute increase, not only in ratio to the red. The hsemato- 

 blasts are enormously increased especially during defervescence. 

 The fibrihe (fibrine formers) is materially increased ; in the horse 

 from 3.5 to 6.7 or 7.5 per 1,000 (Grehaut). Albumen is dimin- 

 ished. Soda salts are increased. The bronchial lymphatic glands 

 are always congested, swollen and reddened, with some serous, 

 effusion. They may become the seat of inflammatory cell growth 

 (embryonic tissue) or even of suppuration. The abscess may- 

 open into the bronchia or pleura. These are especially to be 

 dreaded from their tendency to implicate the inferior laryngeal 

 nerve and induce roaring. 



Pleurisy is inevitable when the inflammation reaches the sur- 

 face of the lung, hence hydrothorax is often present. Peri- 

 carditis and hydropericardium are similarly met with. Endo- 

 carditis is occasionally present and may be traced to strain of the 

 valves of the laboring heart, or to direct infection with the pneu- 

 monia microbe. Dilatation of the right ventricle is common as a 

 result of the obstructed pulmonary circulation. 



Fatty degeneration of the heart and congestions of the intes- 

 tinal mucosa, liver, kidneys and spleen are further complications. 



Finally laminitis and rheumatoid affections occur as complica- 

 tions. 



Treatment. This must be adapted to the nature and condition 

 of the subject and to the character of the disease. A horse in 

 vigorous condition, or with an acute ts^pe of inflammation, maybe 



