THE 
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VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. Vf, No, 67.] JULY, 1833. [New Series, No. 7. 
Sir. youatt’s veterinary lectures, 
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DELIVERED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON. 
LECTURE XXX. 
Phthisis Pulmonalis, or Consumptionj in the Horse and Cattle. 
Gentlemen, —It is my fate to have to treat to-night of 
another disease of our domesticated animals not yet admitted 
into our imperfect nosology, but which is occasionally observed 
in the horse, and destroys thousands of cattle; I mean phthisis 
pulmonalis—consumption or decline; usually the consequence 
of pneumonia or pleurisy, or both combined, but often running 
its course without any indication of acute inflammation of the 
thoracic viscera or membranes. I will suppose a case, fortunately 
not of frequent occurrence. I have a narrow-chested, flat-sided 
horse. It is attacked by pneumonia or severe catarrhal fever. 
My experience tells me, that I shall have a great deal more diffi¬ 
culty in subduing the disease in him, than in one deeper in the 
girth or rounder in the barrel. The lungs, deficient in bulk to 
a degree proportionate to the diminished capacity of the chest, 
have been overworked in supplying the quantity of arterial blood 
usually expended in the various purposes of secretion, nutrition, 
and motion ; and the animal has evidently been distressed and 
blown, when an increased current of blood has been required 
under unusual and violent exertion. The lungs have, therefore, 
been predisposed to take on inflammatory action; and that in¬ 
flammation has acquired an intense character under circum¬ 
stances by which another horse would be scarcely affected. 
- Symptoms of Consumption. —I will, however, suppose that I 
have apparently subdued the disease. Do I dismiss him so 
quickly and so summarily to his work as I should another horse ? 
No, far from it. He has been much emaciated by the disease ; 
he often continues so ; his coat stares, and his skin clings to his 
ribs, and his belly remains tucked up in spite of all my mashes, 
iind carrots, and green meat, and medicine. His life and spirit 
do not return-to him ; he is listless ; or if he is full of spirit and 
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