160 ELEMENTS OF EIPPOLOGY. 



risy. Bronchitis, pleurisy, and pneumonia are allied dis- 

 eases and rarely exist separately. 



Congestion of the lungs is an engorgement of the capil- 

 laries of the lungs with blood, caused by over-exertion, or sudden 

 chilling after heating work. The lungs cannot purify the blood 

 fast enough, and, unless the congestion is arrested, the horse 

 dies of suffocation. 



When a horse has been driven or ridden very fast for a 

 longer period than should have been the case, the severe strain 

 put upon the diaphragm by the extra exertion will cause violent 

 spasmodic contractions of that muscle. This condition is called 

 thumps, and is similar in origin to the familiar hiccoughs. 

 Usually the flank is shrunken, and the posterior angle of the ribs 

 thrust outwards. The jerky motion caused by the spasm shakes 

 the whole body. The pulse is not accelerated in thumps; it 

 often is weaker than normal. If not relieved, death usually 

 results. 



If the disease appears while the animal is on the road, he 

 should be stopped at once; the saddle or harness should be re- 

 moved, and the body and legs should be briskly rubbed to draw 

 as much of the circulation to the skin as possible. As many 

 persons as are available should be put at this work. When the 

 body has become warm and the spasms relax, the patient should 

 be warmly blanketed and should be put in the nearest box-stall, 

 out of drafts. Two or three days' careful nursing will usually 

 complete the convalescence. 



Thumps attacking a horse on the road is always caused 

 by injudicious use. Thumps may be followed by congestion 

 of the lungs, especially in the winter, or by founder in the 

 summer. 



These are all acute diseases. From repeated attacks, the 

 membranes become thickened or their vitality becomes im- 

 paired, and certain chronic diseases result. 



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