In the last stage, the pulse is small, weak, and can scarcely be felt, the breathing is quicker and more difficult; the breath is very hot; the eyes and nose are lead colored; the skin is cold, and clammy sweat breaks out upon it here and there; the mouth is cold; the tongue is coated; the teeth are ground every now and then, and twitches are occasionally seen. The eyes become more and more heavy, glassy and dim; the strength becomes less and less; the horse leans against the stall or manger, or wanders around; he staggers and falls; tries to rise, but cannot; groans, struggles and dies.
As an improvement takes place, the horse appears more natural, warmth returns to his extremities, his breathing is more free, pulse softer, fuller and less frequent, cough easier, and he lies down quietly, and without uneasiness. These good symptoms rarely or never deceive.
Placing the ear against the ribs, upon various parts of the chest, we may learn with some practice to distinguish the progress of inflammation. In the healthy lung, the air passes in with a slight, rustling murmur, quite characteristic, and which, once heard, will always be recognized. As the lung becomes inflamed, “crepitation” takes place and we hear a sound, slightly cracking, like that made by salt thrown into the fire, or by rubbing the hair between the fingers close to the ear. As by degrees the lung becomes more intensely inflamed, it is more and more impervious to the air, until it becomes “hepatized” or solid, and gives no sound, and no resonance when percussed, or struck upon. These changes are interesting, and afford to the practised ear clear indications of the state and progress of the disease.
Treatment.—Give fifteen drops of A.A., every two hours, for the first twenty-four hours. After that, give the E.E., alternately with the A.A., at intervals of two or three hours between the doses.
Continue this treatment steadily and uniformly by night as well as by day, if the attack is severe, giving no other medicine, and making no deviation. After a day or two, with the remission of the more violent symptoms, the A.A. may be omitted entirely, and only the E.E. given, as also after the disease has turned, and during convalescence. After the horse has commenced to improve, a dose of E.E., every four hours during the day, will be sufficient. The treatment is the same whether symptoms of Pleurisy or Pneumonia predominate.
Stabling and food as under Bronchitis.
We should bear in mind that in all severe cases of this disease, resolution does not take place under four days, and if an improvement takes place in one, two or three days, we should be satisfied. Rare indeed will be the cases that do not terminate favorably under Humphreys’ Homeopathic practice, carefully applied.
CHAPTER VIII.—Part I.
DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS
Dentition or Difficult Teething
The cutting or shedding of the teeth, and especially of the tushes, is sometimes attended with considerable disorder of the body. The animal either will not eat his food, or he has pain and difficulty in chewing it; the body grows thin; bowels are out of order; humors may break out in the skin, and there may be cough and slight fever present. The gum is hot, painful and swelled.