Croup. 129 



mostly seen in animals between six months and a year old, and 

 rarely in those over five or six years of age. The specific cause 

 of the formation of false membranes and of spasms of the laryn- 

 geal muscles is a mystery, but to these the susceptible constitution 

 and tissues of young animals appear to predispose. No mere 

 grade of inflammation from the slightest hyperasmia to the high- 

 est type of inflammatory action is of itself sufficient to arouse the 

 special phenomena. All of these are seen everywhere but croup 

 may be said to be confined to certain localities and ages. 



Symptoms. Unless it supervenes on a pre-existant attack of 

 catarrh, croup is usually as sudden in its outset in the lower ani- 

 mals as in man. An extremely hard croupy cough, or loud, 

 crowing, difficult breathing, loudest in inspiration, is usually the 

 first symptom and appears to seize the animal in an instant and 

 without the slightest premonition. This is closely followed by 

 intense fever, full, hard pulse, 80 to 100 and upward per minute, 

 increase of bodily temperature sometimes to 107.5" F-. costive- 

 uess And high colored scanty urine. The throat is excessively 

 tender, the slightest touch giving rise to violent paroxysms of 

 coughing, during which the eyes redden and protrude from their 

 sockets, the veins of the skin are gorged, the tongue, dry and livid, 

 is protruded and small portions of the contents of the stomach and 

 white shreds of false membrane are occasionally brought up. 

 Sometimes in the intervals of coughing as well the mouth is con- 

 stantly open and the tongue protruded and partly covered by a 

 frothy but tenacious mucus. Suffocation appears imminent in 

 many cases and the beast may perish suddenly in this way. On 

 the other hand the threatening symptoms may be present only at 

 certain periods of the day and may be moderated remarkably at 

 others, especially at early morning. If complicated by any chest 

 affection the symptoms are more urgent and the issue more com- 

 monly fatal. If associated with a low type of fever, a small, weak 

 pulse, and much prostration, as it tends to be if it continues sev- 

 eral days without relief, it has a more fatal tendency. The same 

 may be said of its occurrence epizootically. 



Duration. Croup will often run its course and prove fatal in 

 twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Improvement is manifested by 

 the cough becoming less convulsive and painful, by the ex- 

 pulsion through the mouth of shreds of false membrane, and by 

 return of spirits and appetite. 



