Gangrene of the lung sometimes supervenes and is indicated by similar symptoms as in the horse. In severe and prolonged cases a violent fetid diarrhœa often supervenes and hastens a fatal result.
The post mortem lesions are similar to those of the horse. The cut surface of the hepatized lung, however, is divided into irregular red spaces by intersecting yellow lines—hence the name of marbled lung, from a supposed resemblance to that stone. The red spaces represent the pulmonary lobules and the whitish lines the surrounding areolar tissue which being especially abundant in ruminants and pigs stands out prominently when infiltrated with the yellowish exudation. There is then nothing specific in this appearance as has been erroneously supposed, it is merely the result of the different conformation of the lung in these animals and is always seen in the hepatized lung unless when from extravasation of blood into its substance the redness is rendered uniform. The amount of exudate into the interlobular tissue is, however, never so great as in lung plague.
The greater frequency of suppuration in the lung of the ox, as well as the greater tendency to tubercular deposit in prolonged cases are additional features in the diseased lungs.
Treatment. Blood-letting should be employed only with precautions, as in the horse. A saline laxative (1 lb. Epsom salts and ½ lb. molasses) may be used with advantage and safety early in the disease though in advanced stages it may sometimes prove dangerous from the tendency to diarrhœa. If constipation appears at a late stage injections of warm water and a mild laxative (6 ounces sulphate of soda) only, should be given. The purgative may be followed by the same neutral salts and in the same doses as for the horse. Counterirritants are of equal value. A mustard poultice may be kept on for several hours, or a mixture in equal parts of oil of turpentine, ammonia, and olive oil may be actively rubbed over both sides of the chest and repeated daily until tender. In Denmark a prompt and efficient blister is made with 1 part of Croton oil and 10 parts each of sulphuric ether and spirits of wine. This is rubbed actively over the chest and washed off as soon as a sufficient effect has been produced. It must be carefully watched to prevent blemishing.
In the low types of the disease and during convalescence stimulants and tonics are to be employed as recommended for the horse.
Chronic Pneumonia. Gellé describes a chronic form of this disease in cows. For about a month the patient became increasingly emaciated, there was a frequent, dry, weak cough, lifting of the flanks, and expiration double and accompanied by a moan. All these symptoms were aggravated by gentle exercise. Percussion detected dullness at the lower part of the lung and auscultation a distinct crepitating râle. The pulse was weak and rapid, the mucous membranes red and tumid, skin dry, ears and horns cold, appetite small and capricious, rumination rare, excrements soft, and milk almost dried up.
The treatment is by diuretics with vegetable tonics and stimulants and active counterirritation over the chest. Gellé considers the malady as all but incurable unless active blistering is promptly employed so soon as the malady has assumed the chronic form and before extensive structural changes have taken place in the lungs.
CROUPOUS PNEUMONIA IN SHEEP.
Causes, damp, cold soils, inclement weather, cold rains, hard driving, shearing or washing in cold weather, change to a cold climate, or from a warm barn, hot barns, heavy fleeces, sudden plethora. Symptoms, in congestive cases, in inflammatory. Treatment, preventive, hygienic, antiphlogistic, laxative, febrifuge, derivative.
This disease is not infrequent in these animals, occurring enzootically in low, wet pastures; or from cold storms of wind, sleet or drenching rains, particularly after hard driving, or shearing; or from washing during inclement weather. Dressing with mercurial ointment in cases of scab is a frequent cause of pneumonia and death in Lincolnshire and various other English counties. Lastly M. Seron in Hurtrel d’Arboval’s “Dictionaire” describes its prevalence in Seine-Inférieure among low conditioned sheep subjected abruptly to a very nutritious diet. The hot buildings, heavy fleeces, and sudden plethora, appear to conduce to dangerous pulmonary congestions. The symptoms do not differ materially from those seen in the ox except so far as they are modified by the fact that the disease often terminates fatally before hepatization has been established and the symptoms and post mortem appearances are those of congestion and sanguineous engorgement of the lung rather than of hepatization.