PNEUMONIA. This is lung fever in horses, or an inflammation of the substance of the lungs, followed by secretion and effusion of lymph, which solidifies the lungs, at length causing death by suffocation, or recovering by the grad ual absorption of the matter. It is brought about by various causes, as standing in drafts when heated, bad ventilation in the stables, or from anything causing inflammation, or which may run into it. There will be a chill, cold ears and legs, a dry dull cough, sometimes a semi bloody mucus will issue from the nose, the pulse will be rapid, and the heat of the body ofteu 103° or 104°, or even more. If, in addition, upon striking with the knuckles over the lungs, at the chest, there is a dull sound, (when in the well animal it is resonant), the disease is pos itive. If the animal is young and full of blood, it may not be amiss to bleed at the very outset, but blistering and purging must be avoided, and bleeding except as stated. A counter-irritant may be had by means of mustard poultices to the chest. For the fever, give every two hours until the fever is abated, one ounce sweet spirits of nitre, and six ounces solution of acetate of ammonia, in six ounces of water. To reduce
the pulse, give alternately with the above, once in two hours, twenty or thirty drops of tincture of aconite, in a little water. This will also relieve the pressure on the lungs, but these doses must be watched ; and upon the first appear ance of depression of the system, as failing pulse, sweating or trembling, the doses must bt intermitted or discontinued. The animal must be well clothed, comfortably sheltered, and the bow els loosened, if necessary, by injections of warm water. If tire is much weakness, give two drachms each of carbonate of ammonia and camphor, twice a day, and in the form of a ball, and in ease of great exhaustion, a gill of whisky occasionally. Good nursing, and simple, cool ing, laxative and nutritious food, will accom plish more than any heroic treatment, and the animal must be watched until fully recovered, giving gentle exercise, but not real work, and plenty of grass if possible.