PHARYNGITIS. 



35 



geai mucous membrane. The least pressure of the hand upon the 

 larynx will cause coughing ; in some cases it may be noticed at 

 every movement of the head. 



During the height of the disease the breathing is accelerated, 

 and is accompanied by a wheezing or even a rattling noise. On 

 auscultation of the larynx and trachea we perceive the utmost 

 variety of moist râles. 



The parotido-guttural region is tumefied, especially on the 

 surface of the inferior edge of the parotid gland. As a rule, the 

 swelling is not the same on both sides ; it is sometimes limited, 

 sometimes diffuse, and may extend to the whole pharyngeal 

 region. Parotidean tumefaction is mostly due to inflammation 

 of the pharyngeal ganglions and of the sub-parotid connective 

 tissue ; it is rarely induced by an accumulation in the guttural 

 pouches. The skin of this region is sometimes œdematous. The 

 ganglions of the throat, the maxillary and sublingual glands are 

 enlarged, and the thyroid body sometimes tumefied. 



We may sometimes observe symptoms of intestinal catarrh ; we 

 note frequent gapings (yawnings), an arrest of peristaltic motion, 

 and fetid, soft, and coated excrements ; the urine is acid. If en- 

 teritis does not follow, the animals will still eat, and the urine 

 retains its alkaline reaction for several weeks, notwithstanding 

 the persistent fever ; in serious pharyngitis it contains albumin ; 

 the lessening of its specific gravity seems to vary with the crisis 

 of the disease ; in three days we have seen its weight oscillate 

 between 1001 and 1006 ; but we must add, in that case polyuria 

 was present. 



Fever is irregular. In some cases it is entirely nil; the pulsa- 

 tions can hardly be counted, varying from 40 to 48 per minute. 

 In others the disease starts with a temperature of 40° to 41° C, 

 coming suddenly and without any marked acceleration of the 

 pulse. The temperature has been seen to keep at 40° C. during 

 the whole course of the disease, and the number of pulsations did 

 not exceed 40 per minute. Generally the heart function is accel- 

 erated in proportion to the degree of temperature.^ 



If from the outset there is intense fever, it is the result of an 

 infection : such is the pharyngitis of strangles. A thermic curve 

 ascending regularly and constantly indicates phlegmonous compli- 

 cations; a sudden rise generally signifies the formation of an 



1 Frohner: Eeportor., 1881. 



