PNEUMONITIS. 655 
sodas. Aconite lessens the contraction of the heart, chiefly 
through its influence upon the vagus centre, increases the 
action of the skin and kidneys and depresses the functional 
activity of the spinal cord and peripheral nerve endings, 
effects which serve to recommend it above other circulatory 
sedatives. If the movements of the heart can be kept at the 
normal standard, nature may be depended upon to do the 
rest, so far as the circulation is concerned. Due attention 
should be paid to the condition of the alimentary tract, which 
is sometimes seriously disturbed by reflex influences, and 
although we were taught at school that purgatives in this 
disease were never tolerated by the bowels, I have never yet 
seen any bad results follow oleum lini in the dose mentioned; 
on the contrary, I have seen great benefit derived from its 
use, not only by securing free evacuation of the bowels, but 
by switching the blood, so to speak, from the already con¬ 
gested lungs to the bowels. I also leave, to be given three 
times a day, two-drachm doses of acetanilid to reduce temper¬ 
ature. Order animal to be kept quiet, but not isolated, as 
animals, like ourselves, in sickness like sympathy and com¬ 
pany. 
The above measures in the usual run of uncomplicated 
cases will answer for the first stage ; aconite to quiet the cir¬ 
culation ; oleum lini to renovate the digestive track ; acetan¬ 
ilid to reduce temperature and maintain the action of the 
aconite. Cold applications to sides in the form of sponging, 
ice bags, wet cloths, etc., have recently been lauded by several 
veterinarians in this country. My own practical knowledge 
of these measures in this disease is limited, but as far as it 
goes it is confirmatory of their safety and usefulness; my only 
objections being that quite often the patient objects to it, and 
it also requires the personal attention of the veterinarian or a 
trusty assistant—things which are quite often not easily se¬ 
cured ; I can readily see the great harm that might arise if 
this method of treatment were left in the hands of the aver¬ 
age stable boy or hired man, such as we see in our every-day 
practice. 
Exposing the surface of the^body to cool or cold air is not 
