654 
F. H. P. EDWARDS. 
medical thought is so varied and confused as to its proper 
treatment that it may be justly regarded as chaotic. 
This disease is still a reproach to our art, and there is no 
subject which deserves more earnest study. In company 
with others, I find that in pneumonitis, after exudation and 
consolidation have taken place, I am nearly, if not quite, 
powerless to modify the course of the disease under any 
treatment now in vogue. This deplorable fact was very forc¬ 
ibly impressed on me some time ago by the loss from heart 
failure of several patients in quick succession. 
I cannot present anything very new in this paper, nor can 
I express the confidence that the line of treatment I have 
chosen to consider and elucidate will be successful in a large 
percentage of the cases that are now regarded as necessarily 
fatal; but I hope by drawing renewed attention between the 
pathological condition present and the physiological action of 
the drugs administered to throw more light upon the general 
plan of symptomatic treatment that is now adopted by the 
majority of the profession. 
Some authors state that pneumonitis in the first stages can 
be aborted by large doses of quinine, sufficiently large to 
cause cinchonism. Whilst this is within the bounds of possi¬ 
bility, I have never yet had the good fortune to cause the 
abortion of the disease; not from the want of using quinine 
in large enough doses, but probably from not seeing the case 
early enough, and experience has taught me that in our pa¬ 
tients this mode of treatment is very detrimental to both 
patient and practitioner. 
In the first stages of an uncomplicated case of pneumonitis 
the indications are clear: i. Control the circulation and 
diminish the determination of blood to the lungs. 2. Reduce 
the temperature if high. 3. Allay pain by both physical and 
physiological rest. 4. Support the vital powers. 
On being called to a case in the first stages, I first find the 
most suitable place to house my patient; if obtainable, a box 
stall or double stall with a window facing the south; blanket 
the animal; hand rub and bandage the extremities, and give 
a dose of aconite conjoined with oleum lini Oi and bicarb. 
I 
