This engorged state of the lungs it is which has led Youatt and others to describe them erroneously as “gangrenous” and shepherds to name the disease “rot of the lights.” The condition is that of acute congestion and analogous to that seen in congested lungs in the horse.
The treatment ought to be chiefly preventive and will consist in the avoidance of the causes above indicated.
When the disease has set in, fresh air, and general comfort, bleeding if in the very earliest stages and in a strong patient, purging (3 ounces sulphate of soda and ¼ lb. treacle in warm gruel) and a free supply of nitre (about ½ an ounce daily to each) in the water or gruel supplied are the leading indications. As a counterirritant aqua ammonia acts well being sufficiently confined by the fleece.
PIG. PNEUMONIA.
Symptoms, chill, burrowing, hot skin, cough, disturbed breathing, indications of exudation. Treatment, laxative, sedative, nauseant, febrifuge, wet jacket, blister.
Hogs are not exempt from this disease. They show the same symptoms of chill with hiding under the litter, followed by a hot stage, cough, hurried breathing, and (if the clothing of fat is not too thick) conclusive results on auscultation and percussion.
As treatment bleeding from the ears and tail is sometimes resorted to with questionable benefit. A laxative of three ounces of castor oil or three or four croton beans given in the food is of value. Tartar emetic in doses of ¼ grain and nitrate of potash in 10 grain doses should be shaken on the tongue at least four times daily to keep up a continued nausea and action on the urinary organs. The tartar emetic so worthless in the larger animals is of value in the pig and dog. A damp compress or blister may be used. The skin of the animal is difficult to blister, but by the use of the Danish croton liniment, mentioned for the ox, of hot water, or of a mixture of oil of turpentine and croton, 8 parts of the former and 1 part of the latter, a sufficient effect can usually be obtained.
DOG. PNEUMONIA.
Breeds most liable. Causes, over-exertion, cold baths, clipping, exposure in cold, distemper. Symptoms, chill, fever, disturbed breathing, cold extremities, cough. Treatment, dietary, nursing, laxative, nauseant, febrifuge, moist jacket, mustard, stimulants, tonics, heart tonics and careful nutrition during convalescence.
This is a frequent affection in hounds. In hunting or coursing dogs the causes are like those operating in the horse. The clipping of long haired dogs in inclement weather, swimming dogs in winter without afterwards drying or heating them by exercise, and shutting them out of doors at night, when accustomed to a warm dwelling are occasional causes. It sometimes occurs epizootically and frequently supervenes during distemper.