THE TREATMENT OF PNEUMONIA OF THE LUNGS IN 
HORSES, WITH SEA-SALT SOLUTION.* 
By A. T. Peters, Springfield, III. 
In view of our observation that the blood of animals affected 
with pneumonia become reduced in the amount of alkalinity the 
moment the temperature rises, and continues as the progress of 
the lungs become involved, the author came to the conclusion that 
the alkalinity of the blood and the rise in temperature are in close 
connection with one another, also that the extent of the affected 
alveoli (an atonic condition of the bronchial blood vessels) are 
influenced under these conditions; consequently as these proc¬ 
esses develop you get a weaker pulse. Therefore when the blood 
can be kept sufficiently alkali the diseased process in the lungs 
cannot progress with that pernicious energy as before. Now, 
when the blood of diseased animals is injected with an alkali 
solution the tone of the lungs will change and it will have the 
power to energetically resist the disease. For this purpose sea- 
salt seems to be the most adaptable medicament, which has been 
used in the human practice with very good results in special cases. 
To receive rapid therapeutic effect the author used a simple i per 
cent, solution in place of ordinary normal salt solution. The 
treatment was begun on twenty-five horses affected with pneu¬ 
monia in the Artillery Corps of Russia. Of these twenty-five, 
eight were severe cases, three light, twelve with slight lung proc¬ 
esses and two with complications of enteritis and complications 
of pleuro-pneumonia. On account of sea-salt containing a large 
amount of iodine it cannot be sterilized by heating on account of 
the rapid evaporation. Therefore I filter it through a cotton 
filter. In this way the author prepares a fresh i per cent, solu¬ 
tion. The following apparatus is required: Rubber tubing and 
trocar, so that it can be easily inserted into the skin at the neck. 
* Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, Springfield, July 9, 1912. By Von 
W. Tschistjakofif, Veterinarian to the Artillery Corps of Russia. Translated into the 
German by G. Stange, Berliner Tierarstliche IVochenschrift, April 11, 1912. 
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