338 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 



Symptoms. — These are fever; short, dry, smothered, and pain- 

 ful cough in the early stages, which later has a tendency to be- 

 come moist, due to exudation; wheezing or whistling sounds, 

 detectable when the ear is placed over the trachea and sides of 

 the chest. When exudation has taken place, moist rales or 

 gurgling sounds can be heard very distinctly in the trachea, and 

 a nasal discharge is present. The animal is always dull, has 

 increased respirations and pulse, and partial or complete loss of 

 appetite. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between 

 bronchitis and pneumonia, as a severe attack of the former is 

 frequently complicated by involvement of the lung tissue. 



Treatment. — The treatment of bronchitis is not radically 

 different from that of other diseases of the respiratory apparatus. 

 It consists in providing rest; fresh air; hygienic surroundings; 

 blanketing to protect the animal from draughts and sudden 

 changes in temperature; light, easily digested food, and a liberal 

 supply of clean drinking water, which may be kept constantly 

 before the animal in a pail set in the manger. Half-ounce doses 

 of nitrate of potash may be given three times daily in the drink- 

 ing water until the temperature becomes normal; then Fowler's 

 solution in half ounce doses two or three times daily will be 

 found of marked benefit. Counterirritation in the form of mus- 

 tard paste applied to the chest and covered with newspapers to 

 protect soiling of the blanket is helpful, but severe blistering 

 effects should be avoided. Thorough daily grooming of the 

 body, and friction applied to the legs, with bandages to equalize 

 the circulation, frequently have a marked beneficial effect upon 

 the -temperature and general condition of the animal. Chronic 

 bronchitis is usually incurable. 



FORAGE POISONING 



Forage poisoning originates in the digestive organs, but makes 

 its presence known by disturbances of the brain and spinal cord. 

 In some sections of the country it is known as food or ptomain 

 poisoning, in others as corn-stalk disease. Horses, cattle, and 

 sheep become affected, the last less frequently. It occurs more 

 frequently in animals having access to corn silage, shredded 

 fodder, corn stalks, or corn cobs. 



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