BRONCHITIS. 123 



catarrh. In old animals it very often takes the chronic form at 

 the onset. 



This disease, or Ihe results of it, is what is generally termed 

 asthma, so often see a in old well-cared-for dogs. The disease is 

 characterized by a certain amount of difficulty in respiration, which 

 is increased by running or any excitement, and is generally accom- 

 panied by a severe attack of coughing, which in severe cases ends 

 with every evidence of choking or even vomiting. The cough 

 is generally moist, and may be accompanied with a cerlain amount 

 of rattling. In the majority of cases, where the disease is not far 

 advanced, the animals enjoy good health and rarely exhibit any 

 fever. In old cases the expired air may be bad-smelling or 

 fetid. 



Percussion gives no definite results. Auscultation gives sounds 

 that depend on the number and size of the diseased bronchia and 

 the character of the mucus accumulated in them. We may find 

 either moist or rattling sounds which vary in character; and a 

 heightened vesicular respiration or else an indistinct mucous 

 sound. 



Therapeutics of Tracheal and Bronchial Catarrh. 

 Keep the animal in a moderately warm place where it is dry and 

 free from draughts, but well ventilated. In the early stages of 

 the disease give a mild expectorant, such as syrup of tolu or wild 

 cherry. Local inhalation of vaporized drugs is not of much use, 

 as very little of the drug is carried into the bronchial tubes, espe- 

 cially the small ones. We may administer medicinal vapors by 

 putting a teaspoonful of turpentine in a quart of boiling water 

 and hold it so that the animal will inhale the steam. 



In the chronic cases we generally get good results from the 

 administration of expectorants, such as apomorphia, ipecacuanha, 

 and spiritus ammonia mindererus ; and where there is a violent 

 cough add narcotics, such as morphia, extract of hyoscyamus, or 

 dilute hydrocyanic acid and cyanide of potassium. When there is 

 fever present a few doses of antipyrine (0.5 to 1.0 gramme, twice 

 daily) will generally suffice. 



Tartar emetic, chloride of ammonium, and sulphuretted anti- 

 mony are of little use; in fact, do more harm than goud, as they 

 often destroy the appetite. In the early stages of the disease the 

 cough does not amount to much, but in the later stages it is 



