INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS 57 



specific, the treatment is symptomatic and follows that 

 outlined for fibrinous pneumonia. Intratracheal irrigations 

 are of little value in catarrhal pneumonia, unless applied 

 very early and before the lung proper is attacked (washing 

 out the bronchi) following aspiration of blood and exudate 

 after operations ("roaring," head sinuses). 



Foreign-body Pneumonia. — Definition. — Foreign-body 

 pneumonia is a clinical term used to include all forms of 

 inflammation of the lung due to the entrance of coarse 

 foreign matter. 



Etiology. — Foreign-body pneumonia is due to the aspira- 

 tion of dust, gases, food, liquids, blood, pus, etc. While 

 it occurs in all animals the horse is the most common victim 

 due to improper drenching and the frequency in this animal 

 of pharyngitis, strangles, tetanus, encephalitis and purpura 

 in which diseases dysphagia is a common symptom. The 

 dysphagia following chloroform narcosis and attending 

 forage poisoning may also lead to it. In the ox the pharyn- 

 geal paralysis occurring in parturient paresis is the most 

 common etiological factor, paunch contents being regurgi- 

 tated and liquid medicines unskilfully given reaching the 

 windpipe. Foreign material (sharp objects) may also pene- 

 trate the lung from the reticulum. 



Necropsy. — On postmortem it will be noted that the 

 foreign material has produced bronchitis and areas ,of 

 bronchopneumonia. Due to the entrance of pus bacteria 

 and germs^ of putrefaction there result purulent infiltration, 

 necrosis and decomposition of the lung tissue. Therefore 

 gangrene, abscess and putrefaction are found combined 

 changing the lung into a miscolored, fetid, odorous, smeary 

 mass. By contact the pleura also becomes involved so 

 that a purulent or putrid pleuritis is present. More rarely 

 there may be pneumothorax. 



Symptoms.— The onset in foreign-body pneumonia is 

 usually insidious and may be entirely overlooked especially 

 by the owner or attendant. The disease begins as a bron- 

 chitis and bronchopneumonia (cough, rales). When gangrene 

 sets in the expirium has a sweetish odor which later becomes 

 fetid. Soon nasal discharge appears which is discolored and 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



