INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS 51 



is increased to 60 to 80 or higher. Quite often the pulse 

 remains high after the fever has gone down. The respira- 

 tions are accelerated early and the patient breathes with 

 distended nostrils. The conjunctiva in severe cases often 

 assumes a spotted mahogany color. The percussion varies 

 with the stage of the disease. In the earliest stage (con- 

 gestion) there is little appreciable change (somewhat tympan- 

 itic); 1 in the second stage (hepatization) a flat sound is 

 emitted. The sound begins about the second day and is re- 

 tained three to five days. During the third stage (resolution) 

 the sound becomes tympanitic again. The area of dulness 

 is usually confined to the ventral portion of one lung, its 

 dorsal limits often describing an upward curved line. Aus- 

 cultation: In the first stage crepitant rales at inspiration — 

 fine crackling sounds like rubbing hair between the fingers. 

 These sounds are usually present for the first twenty-four to 

 forty-eight hours, then pass away. In the second stage the 

 vesicular murmur is gone and there is either no respiratory 

 sound audible or tubular breathing (bronchial) is heard. In 

 the third stage moist rales are heard (the return rale). 

 General condition : Varies greatly with the case. In mild 

 attacks the appetite may be retained and the mind little 

 perturbed. In severe cases there is no appetite while the 

 fever is on, and the animal is very stupid and languid. 

 Horses usually do not lie down until the fever drops. Small 

 animals and even ponies lie down most of the time during the 

 disease, and if only one lung is affected, on the diseased side. 

 The urine is scanty and high colored until the fall of the 

 fever when its specific gravity drops and the quantity, voided 

 frequently, greatly increases. 



Diagnosis. — Acute catarrhal pneumonia may be confused 

 with it. The principal differential features are: (see Table 

 E.) . From pleuritis it may be distinguished by auscultation 

 and percussion. In cases complicated with pleuritis (pleuro- 

 pneumonia) differentiation may be impossible. However, 

 pleuritis is usually bilateral, the upper margin of the zone 



1 The flat percussion sound may not be obtained, if the pneumonia involves 

 the central rather than the peripheral portion of the. lungs (pneumonia 

 centralis) . 



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