Diseases of the Chest. 151 



A weak cough wanting in reasonance and heard only at a 

 short distance from the horse, is usually associated with chronic 

 chest diseases and the last stages of acute thoracic inflammations. 



A short, broken or abortive cough is one which appears to 

 be suddenly cut short and suppressed, from the pain it causes. It 

 is seen in the early stages of inflammations of the serous mem- 

 branes of the chest or abdomen, when the quick rubbing of the 

 dry and inlSamed surfaces of these membranes on each other 

 produces exquisite pain. It characterizes especially the debut of 

 pleurisy, pleuro-pneumonia and peritonitis. This cough is in- 

 frequent for the same reason that it is short. 



A dry, loud, rasping, or croupous cough is peculiar to the 

 early stages of laryngitis, tracheitis and bronchitis, when the 

 membrane is swollen, tense and dry. It is equally met with in 

 diphtheritic and croupous afiEections implicating the larynx. 



A small, weak, dry, husky cough without any rasping is 

 characteristic of broken wind (heaves) emphysema of the lungs, 

 asthma, or chronic bronchitis. 



A soft, humid or rattling cough exists in the advanced stages 

 of laryngitis, bronchitis and pneumonia when the activity of the 

 inflammation has given way and a free exudation has taken place 

 from the mucous membrane. It is usually accompanied by a dis- 

 charge, in solipedes from the no-se, and in other animals from 

 nose and mouth. 



A soft cough with a peculiar gurgling in the larynx is some- 

 times met with in croup. 



A paroxysmal cough is one repeated five, ten, or twenty times 

 in rapid succession. It is common in chronic bronchitis, early 

 heaves, emphysema, verminous bronchitis and infliieflza. In such 

 cases it is observed chiefly when the subject is brought out to the 

 cold air, when he takes a drink of cold water, or when he has 

 just had some active exertion, or some dusty or fibrous food. 



A symptomatic cough is one due to disease in some other 

 organs than the respiratory, and which irritates the air passages 

 through, nervous sympathy (reflex action). It is commonly 

 small, short and dry. Inflammation or other disease of the liver, 

 indigestions and intestinal worms are occasional causes of symp- 

 tomatic cough. In the case of worms it may be loud, clear and 

 ringing. 



