Percussion manifests a healthy resonance over the greater part or all of the chest, a drum-like sound over given areas, and auscultation over its median part detects a bronchial rattle and in most cases a dry sibilant râle.
After death the bronchial tubes are found to contain an abundance of thick mucus, though abnormal redness of the mucous membrane is by no means a necessary condition. There is always more or less dilatation of the bronchial tubes especially at their points of subdivision where they are often twice their healthy calibre, and an emphysematous state of the lungs is equally constant. Delafond and Rodet have noted minute ulcers on the bronchial mucous membrane and Reynal miliary abscesses and grayish and white indurations of the lung tissue and bronchial glands which may have been glanderous.
It will be observed that the symptoms and lesions closely resemble those of broken wind (heaves), and unless early and successfully treated, into this it gradually merges. The chief distinguishing symptoms are the abundance and nature of the discharge, the fetor of the breath, and the presence of the mucous râle in the chest. It is one of the conditions known by the horseman’s expression “thick wind.”
Treatment. Like its type (dilatation of the bronchia, bronchiectasis) in man this disease obstinately resists treatment. In our efforts to cure it the same general principles must be followed as in acute bronchitis, with this grand qualification that the general aim must be to stimulate and support. Stimulating liniments may be repeatedly applied along the course of the trachea and on the sides of the chest. An equable temperature is desirable and a dry building. Water vapor medicated with various astringents and antiseptics (creosote, carbolic acid, turpentine, tar, or tar vapor) is to be commended. A course of tonic and expectorant medicine is desirable and a highly nutritious and laxative diet is imperatively demanded.
As tonics Gentian may be given daily in 4 drachm doses combined with quaiacum in doses of 2 scruples. In most cases it will be advisable to add to the above or employ separately arsenious acid in doses of 5 to 10 grains combined with three times the amount of bicarbonate of soda, and given daily for a month or longer.
The diet should be as for broken wind, nutritious, in small bulk, of a laxative nature and given at least an hour before work. A moderate supply of grass, roots, bran, oats or barley may be given, but hay must be sparingly supplied and, if exclusively clover hay, dry and dusty, is better withheld. In the north of France horses with chronic bronchitis are maintained in a serviceable condition by a diet of cut straw and cut hay, well sifted to remove all dust mixed with oats and molasses and set aside in a large cask to ferment before being given to the animals. Tar water may be the exclusive drink.
A pint of linseed, well boiled, and given daily for a length of time in succession is often of great value.
BRONCHITIS IN THE OX.
Working oxen most susceptible. Causes, damp buildings, wet, cold, exposed localities. Debility, overwork, poor feeding, close, foul stables, sudden changes of temperature. Previous attacks. Symptoms, mild form, and severe, fever, sneezing, cough, dry, later soft, prostration, retraction of nostrils, labored breathing, hot breath, discharge, watery, milky, purulent. Duration, Complications and sequelæ. Chronic form. Respiratory disturbance, paroxysmal cough, purulent discharge, mucous and sibilant râles, emaciation. Lesions. Treatment, laxative safer, expectorant, derivative stimulant, etc., as in horse. Bronchitis in pigs and sheep.
This is less common than the same disease in the horse, though in working oxen, in which many of the same causes operate, it is frequently seen. It is not infrequent in other cattle in damp buildings or in wet cold exposed situations. Debility from overwork and poor feeding, often brings on the chronic form of this disease. Living out in damp nights after a hard day’s work is another frequent cause. The enervating influence of the hot foul air of many cow houses conduces to it and is specially injurious if alternated with a chilling atmosphere out of doors. Previous attacks strongly predispose to future ones.