Under this title our grandfathers congregated all affections of the lungs. Congestion, bronchitis, pleurisy were all regarded as stages of pneumonia. This error, even at the present time, confuses the descriptions of most authors. True pneumonia is, consequently, now more rarely encountered; such a result accords with the knowledge gained by anatomical investigation concerning the structure of or the substance of the lung. The bronchial tubes constitute a large portion of these organs, but their disease is termed bronchitis. The pleura covers the lungs, but its inflammation is called pleurisy. The blood is affected during all disorders, but the vessels themselves are rarely implicated; involvement of the absorbents constitutes glanders and farcy. Yet, when the tubes, covering, veins, arteries, and absorbents are abstracted, there remains only cellular tissue; that structure is not apt to take on inflammation, and when it is so implicated, the inflammation of cellular tissue is regarded as rheumatism: consequently, there remains only a species of general disorder of all the constituents to stand for pneumonia.
Horses supposed to have perished from pneumonia, not unfrequently, when examined after death, present hydrothorax or dropsy of the chest; thus proving the pleura to have been affected. However, such vivid descriptions of pneumonia are bequeathed us by our ancestors, that we are, to a certain degree, overpowered by the authority of assertion. Too many are actually overawed by the positiveness of the dead; thus, in many instances, influenza is treated as inflammation of the lungs; dropsy of the chest, brought on by weakness, naturally ensues.
When acute pneumonia (as it is called, which really represents a subacute disorder of all the contents of the lungs) does occur, it is rather lingering in its development; the breathing is labored and slightly accelerated; the pulse is less increased than would be expected; the artery is full, and the beat seems driven by some hidden force through a gelatinous obstacle; it bulges out, and then all is still for an interval, after which the operation is repeated. The horse has lost all spirit, indeed, a considerable portion of its consciousness has evidently departed; it stands as though from giddiness it feared to fall; its legs are separated and strained outward to the furthest limit.
THE POSITION ASSUMED BY THE HORSE DURING AN AGGRAVATED ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA.
The head and ears are dejected; the coat rough; the extremities cold; the body without warmth; the visible membranes discolored, and the bowels costive; in short, the animal appears oppressed by some heavy misfortune. Feeling seems half dead; thus we are warranted in imagining that the attack has embraced all the component structures of the lungs, and that it consists in no small degree of congestion.
The general practice is to bleed, and to bleed largely; to let the current run till the animal is on the point of fainting; then, as bleeding always quickens the pulse, more blood is abstracted to lower it; this not answering, the same plan is adhered to. The vein is tapped and the liquor drawn, as though the vital fluid were table beer, and the animal an inanimate cask. At last, nature resents such repeated depletion. No sooner is the fleam struck than weakness is alarmed; then the eyes and nostrils are sponged with cold water, to procure a little more blood; until, at last, the animal dies, as practitioners have said, because the horse could not bear bleeding enough!
The writer does not advise to destroy the strength, which is now essential to surmount disease. Bleed only once, then take no more than will afford ease to the sufferer; if a pint accomplishes that object, a pint is sufficient. Be guided neither by the quantity abstracted nor by the faltering of the pulse; watch the head of the animal; so soon as that is raised and the general aspect denotes a sense of life, pin up the orifice; but think twice before you bleed once, and shun the operation if it can possibly be avoided, or if the fluid has a thick and black appearance, dribbling down the neck, not spirting from the vein.
When you first behold the horse, carefully examine it; place your ear to the side; in health there is only a gentle blowing sound audible; if more than that is heard; if something within the chest seems to grate or suck; if, in addition, any noise, as of a huge pair of bellows at violent work, is detected, make up your mind to a case of pneumonia. No time is to be lost; procure a large and airy loose box; strew it thickly with tan; do this, because pneumonia has an aptitude "to fall into the feet," as grooms say, or, in other language, the disease is subject to metastisis, and the inflammation will sometimes quit the lungs to reappear in the feet; something soft and cool is most likely to prevent such a mishap; therefore, when the tan is strewn upon the floor, moisten it with a watering-pot, and have the iron shoes taken off the animal.
