Acute Fibrinous Pneumonia. Pneumonitis In the Horse. 267 



greatly benefitted by an actively depleting treatment, whereas to 

 the same animal in a low state of health, or during the prevalence 

 of an epidemic form of the malady, depletion may be destruction. 

 It is not sought here, as is so often done in the consideration of 

 this disease, to ring the changes, as to the probability of a change 

 of tvpe in disease, or a change of theory on the part of physicians, 

 having affected the practice of bloodletting. True to our primary 

 purpose of rendering the work eminently practical, we shall first 

 notice the general management applicable to all cases, then the 

 treatment of the two great types of the disease, acute (sthenic), 

 and subacute (asthenic), leaving to the enlightened judgment of 

 the reader to -apply an appropriately modified system to that 

 large class of cases which occupy an intermediate position. 



A pure airy box is first demanded, with the windows or doors 

 toward the south, or at least not turned in the direction of the 

 prevailing cold winds. The craving for pure air, so strikingly 

 shown by the position which the anirtial assumes, ought never to 

 be ignored nor neglected. We do not advocate the system of the 

 late Professor Coleman who kept pneumonia patients in open 

 sheds exposed to all vicissitudes of temperature winter or summer, 

 and yet the fact that many recovered under such treatment, as well 

 as under a more rigorous system, having been turned out into 

 the open fields amidst frost and snow, ought to open the eyes of 

 all, to the incomparable value of fresh air in this disease. The 

 box then must be dry, cool and airy but without a cold exposure 

 and without draughts of cold air. 



Next in importance to pure, cool air is the comfort of the 

 patient. Any tendency to chill, shivering, staring coat, or cold- 

 ness of the surface and extremities is to be counteracted as far as 

 possible. One or more blankets according to the condition of the 

 patient and the temperature of the atmosphere, are valuable and 

 for the same reason a hood may be put on. Coldness of the limbs 

 is to be met by active rubbing with the hand or with wisps of 

 dry hay, and then wrapping up loosely in flannel bandages. Some 

 apply to the limbs ammonia and oil, spirits of turpentine, and 

 other stimulants and thus by a powerful derivative action, obtain 

 an alleviation of the lung symptoms. For the same reason a 

 mustard poultice on the chest, or the hot wet rugs recommended 

 for congested lungs, often prove valuable in the earlier stages. 



