PRIZE ESSAY : — PLEURA-PNEUMONIA AMONG CATTLE. 335 
dull sound is usually elicited to a greater or less extent ; but this 
will depend upon the amount of lung that has become inflamed, 
and the presence or absence of fluid in the chest. 
“ These sounds offer various modifications accordingly as the 
pleura or substance of the lung itself is most inflamed : thus, if 
pneumonia predominates, the creaking is but slightly, if at all, 
heard, and the dulness on percussion is not so flat and general ; 
while, if a larger proportionate amount of pleurisy exists, bronchial 
respiration, broncophony, and the rubbing sound, may be heard, 
while little or no crepitation is audible. A marked difference is 
also observed on percussion ; the dulness is more defined and dead, 
and principally confined to the lower parts of the chest, owing to 
the presence of fluid, which, in all the cases we have examined, 
has become rapidly and abundantly effused when much pleurisy 
existed. 
“Should the animal survive this state, which it seldom does, the 
third and last stage of the disorder now rapidly sets in, and we 
may be certain of its existence when we observe a death-like 
appearance in the aspect of the animal : the surface of the skin 
becomes cold and moist ; coldness of horns, ears, and extremities ; 
head still projected, with nose thrust into a corner, if in a hovel or 
stall ; extreme restlessness ; while she stands, which she frequently 
does, her fore-legs are placed wide apart, while her hind-legs are 
crossed one over the other ; she is heedless of the approach of any 
one ; respiration is rapid and intensely laborious ; fetid breath ; 
there is a dirty-coloured viscid fluid occasionally mixed with 
purulent-looking matter discharged from the mouth ; no secretion 
of milk ; pulse rapid and weak, sometimes intermittent ; extreme 
emaciation and prostration of strength, with inability to cough or 
swallow. In the majority of cases no sound whatever is 
heard on the diseased side, except a loud gurgling, which is 
audible at some distance : general dulness on percussion. This 
condition may continue for a few days, when she becomes reduced 
to a mere skeleton. At last her groans grow louder and more 
frequent ; she makes ineffectual efforts to breathe from apparent 
suffocation ; total insensibility sets in, which is quickly followed 
by death.” 
In our next we shall give an outline of the essayist’s “ morbid 
anatomy of the disease,” his opinions in regard to its infectious 
qualities, and its suggestions of treatment. 
Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. 
