686 IRISH CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAl. ASSOCIATION. 
and it often happens we are never called on to treat them till some 
unfavorable symptom or termination sets in to arouse the suspi¬ 
cions of the owner of the unfortunate animal, or, in other instances, 
till fatal ones begin to develop themselves, and it is then we are 
tested to exert our skill to determine its nature, or distinguish it 
from other diseases which might simulate the symptoms. There is, 
perhaps, no greater disappointment to a professional man than to 
have a good case of bronchitis or pneumonia, and fill himself up 
with an idea that our patient is safely out of it, and in all probabi¬ 
lity give his owner a promise of the same, when you find a trouble¬ 
some cough continue, changing every day with all treatment, and 
becoming gradually, dry, short, and hollow, which betokens the 
dreaded sequel and only wants the spasmodic double respiration to 
tell the case has terminated, and the patient ‘M^roken winded 
and worse still, when we are compelled to inform his master that the 
animal, which may have been a favorite or valuable hunter, is only 
fit to be sold or turned to slow farm work. Such has happened to 
myself, and it is one of those awkward positions which professional 
men are sometimes placed in. 
Chronic bronchitis is the first of those diseases I will allude to, 
and is one of the most common unfavorable terminations of in¬ 
fluenza, distemper, strangles, or any acute inflammation of the air 
passages. It is unnecessary for me to give any explanation of the 
minute structure of the bronchial tubes, as they are already, as well 
as the construction of the air-cells and lung-tissue itself, known to 
all here. Chronic bronchitis is invariably preceded by an attack 
of acute inflammation, and shows itself after those symptoms have 
disappeared. Influenza in most of its forms, and strangles in many, 
are accompanied by or consist in an inflammatory condition of the 
muco-respiratory tract; and we find, after the symptoms of the 
disease have disappeared, and the animal should be in health, a 
husky dry cough remains, while the Schneiderian membrane retains 
its purple hue, and secretes a peculiar muco-purulent fluid, varying 
daily in its consistence and appearance. The signs of returning 
health seem delayed, and the animal has an anxious, careworn 
appearance. On giving exercise fits of coughing come on, and the 
breathing is disturbed even in walking. On closer examination 
the respirations are found increased five, six, and even ten more 
than natural, and shows particularly during exertion or excitement. 
The appetite is not impaired in the least, indeed, in some cases, I 
have seen it voracious, wuth a tendency to eat litter or other refuse. 
I have sometimes observed, as the disease advances, slight depres¬ 
sion of the intercostal muscles, but little other symptoms show 
themselves until the cough gradually increases, becomes more 
troublesome, and changes in tone, the attendant generally remarking 
that it is like an attempt to remove something from the throat, and 
occurring in paroxysms. On carefully watching the mouth, or 
examining it after a fit, a small sputum, or piece of coagulated 
puriform lymph will be found, which is the reason we so seldom 
see this, as it is usually swallowed with the saliva. In a few cases 
