SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
139 
Differential Diagnosis .—It is important to distinguish asthma 
from other diseases of the respiratory tract; and the one it is 
most likely to be confounded with is pulmonary emphysema. 
Asthma is differentiated from emphysema by its violence, and by 
the absence of dyspnoea during the interval between the parox¬ 
ysms. In emphysema the cause of the dyspnoea is found in or¬ 
ganic lesions, while asthma is functional; the breathing in em¬ 
physema is always difficult, with a double expiratory act, the ratio 
between the inspiration and expiration being about one to 
three; there is no interval of paroxysms, although it is increased 
during exercise. The physical signs will greatly aid the practi¬ 
tioner : being wheezing in character in asthma, while they are 
more sonorous in emphysema, with prolonged expiration. Roar¬ 
ing could hardly be mistaken for asthma, as the sound is pro¬ 
duced in the larynx, and besides the absence of the other physi¬ 
cal signs and the regular rhythm of the abdomen during respira¬ 
tion. 
Treatvient .—It should be borne in mind that your first indi¬ 
cation is directed to the relief of the paroxysm, and this having 
been accomplished, then institute measures to prevent their re¬ 
currence. When called to see an animal suffering from asthma, 
the first thing to be done is to ascertain, if possible, the exciting 
cause, and if it still exists, remove it. If you find that overfeed¬ 
ing is the cause, give a cathartic in order that the intestinal tract 
be unloaded, and place the animal in the most favorable circum¬ 
stances for relief. The history will greatly influence you in the 
proper remedies to select, as being best adapted for each particu¬ 
lar case. All are not relieved by the same agents; in some in-, 
stances by the use of sedatives we obtain the desired result, while 
in others stimulants effect it. Among sedatives the most effect¬ 
ual are opium, ether, nitrite-amyl and belladonna. These give re¬ 
lief by acting upon the nervous system of the lungs, or on the 
general nervous system. Inhalations of ether or nitrite of amyl 
or chloroform will relieve the spasm. As a stimulant alcohol is 
the most preferable, also carbonate of ammonia, and will be borne 
in large doses. During the interval between the paroxysms, the - 
treatment should be altogether hygenic, and by the observance 
