214 DISEASES OF THE RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 
phrase goes, and probably exposed to a current of cold air 
afterwards; whether in the midst of frost or in the middle 
of summer the effect seems to be much the same. Ordinary 
catarrh commonly enough advances to bronchitis, and so 
does sudden or acute congestion. 
Young animals are more subject to this affection, as to 
most others of the breathing organs, than old ones, a cir¬ 
cumstance that is not remarkable, when we consider the 
state of the atmosphere they are compelled to inhale in the 
stable, and compare it with the air they have been accus¬ 
tomed to before being brought into use; added to which 
there is the influence of a stimulating diet, probably in abun¬ 
dance, with a very limited amount of exercise. Symptoms 
will vary in different cases; the really distinctive signs of 
most diseases are often insignificant in their extent. General 
signs of derangement are apparent enough, and we do not 
wonder at the number of affections compressed into one 
general title of “ inflammation of lungs/ 5 
The horse will naturally be dull and dispirited, sick 
animals are not usually remarkably lively; he will not, 
however, stand obstinately in one position, nor will he mani¬ 
fest any particular desire to avail himself of any openings 
where he may obtain a little fresh air, on the contrary, he 
often lies down at intervals, and frequently finds some 
apparent satisfaction in pushing his head into a corner quite 
away from the open door, left so for his especial advantage ; 
most practitioners will take it as a sign of commencing 
recovery when the horse once more faces the light, and stands 
with his head honestly out in the open air. In a number 
of cases all sorts of eccentricities are met with, and if any 
dozen good observers were asked to note down all the 
symptoms of this or any other form of disease, there would 
be found to exist many discrepancies in their lists. 
The general signs will invariably be sufficient to point to 
the lungs as the organs affected, and a careful examination 
of those organs will settle the question of the particular 
tissue most implicated. Respiration is always quickened, 
according to the temperament of the patient, from thirty to 
sixty or seventy in the minute; the breath is always hot, the 
mucous membranes are reddened, and usually there is a 
painful cough. The bronchial murmur is very distinct, and 
higher in pitch than it is in health. 
The presence of the mucous rale indicates the moist stage 
when the air has to pass through the accumulated mucous 
secretion. The moist stage is very often not accompanied by 
this sound, but the sound is never present without the 
