No.452.

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 28. [1831-32.

LECTURES

ON

VETERINARY MEDICINE,DELIVERED IN THE

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON,BY

MR. YOUATT.

LECTURE XXVII.

EPIDEMIC CATARRH, AND MALIGNANT CA-

TARRI-IAI, EPIDEMIC IN CATTLE-BRON-

CHITIS IN HORSES AND CATTLE—THE

PECULIAR BRONCHITIS IN YOUNG CAT-

TLE ACCOMPANIED BY WORMS IN THE

BRONCHIAL PASSAGES.

EPIDEMIC catarrh is a more frequent andmore destructive disease in cattle than inthe horse. In a cold yet variable spring,succeeding to a wet and mild winter, therewill sometimes be scarcely a dairy or astall-yard in which a considerable numberof the cows do not labour under the most

distressing hoose, and in which few are

altogether without cough. This, however, isonly the early or most prevalent symptom.Costiveness is observed, on which your cas-tor-oil or Epsom salts, although given in re- ipeated doses, will make no impression, andthen, all at once, diarrhcea will come on,which bids equal defiance to your remedialmeasures. In many cases diarrhoea is pre-sent, and obstinate, from the beginning. Tu-mours about the joints, the neck, the rootsof the ears, the head generally, the back andthe loins, soon succeed ; at first apparentlycaused by the extrication of gas in the cel-lular membrane, and recognised by a singu-lar crackling sound when pressed upon. Itwould appear as if the process of decompo-sition was going forward during the life ofthe animal. No sooner do these tumours

appear than the faecal discharge is offemsivein a high degree ; the breath loses its pecu-liar and beautiful scent ; the vital powersare rapidly exhausting ; the powers of theorganic system first, and soon afterwards of

the locomotive, and the animal system gene-rally. The beast is unwilling to move;it caa scarcely move-it staggers as itwalks. The loss of flesh can now be tracedevery day-the coat stares, and clings tothe carcase, the appetite has been longsince gone, a fetid discharge commencesfrom the mouth and nostrils, and the end isnot far off.

Treatment.—Here, even more than in thehorse, it is necessary that your measuresshould be prompt and decisive. These

singular cracklings and tumours indicate apeculiarity about these animals which youshould never forget. The vascular systemis more than usually developed and power-ful. Cattle were designed to yield us muchnutriment even while living, and plenty of £

good muscle and fat after death. In pro-portion to the extra-work thus requiiedfrom the vessels most concerned with in-flammation, is the tendency to inflamma-tory fever of every description, and to thespeedy exhaustion of vital organic power.

Venesection.—Bleeding will always be

proper at the commencement of epidemiccatarrh in cattle, regulated by the intensityof inflammation, or the apparent approachof debility, and by the effect producedwhile the blood continues to flow. An ox,in the early stage of inflammatory disease,will bear to lose a much greater quantity ofblood than the horse ; but the disease hav-

ing advanced, the injury produced by toocopious depletion is proportionably greater.

Aperients.—Physic should immediatelybe administered. The sulphate of mag-nesia is the preferable aperient; commonsalt may be given, but sulphur is hardlypowerful enough in the early stage. Some

practitioners, however, give equal quanti-ties of the sulphate of magnesia and sul-phur, and they imagine with safer and surereffect. The usual dose of the Epsom saltswould be a pound, followed up if necessaryby half-pound doses at intervals of six

hours, and assisted by injections.Probably from the peculiar structure ofthe stomachs of cattle, and the expansionof cuticular surface, and the comparativelysmall supply of blood-vessels and nerves,’ to the stomachs, and even the intes-

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tines, on account of the previous and com- that disease which is malignant from ihplete mechanical preparation of the food

very commencement is also more common.

for digestion, there is not the powerful There are very few years in which it is notsympathy which exists in the horse be- endemic. It principally appears in sometween the thoracic and abdominal viscera, districts, marshy and woody, or whereand therefore in the early stages of this underdraining has been neglected, or some

disease, and although there may be evident farnis where the cattle have been exposedchest affection, the mild aperients which and half starved ; but it has not for many awe use for cattle may be administered with year spread so widely or been so destruc-perfect safety. To aloes, however, I should tive as in former times. In the records of

object. This rlrug is uncertain in its ope- it which have been handed down to us, andration on cattle-it purges only in large in our present experience of it, it differsdoses, and then it irritates and disposes to materially in its symptoms and its treat..inflammation. ment, according to the degree in which it

Medicine and General Treatment.—The is primarily an affection of the respiratorysedative medicines recommended for the or digestive passages, or coming under thehorse should be administered to cattle, but description of malignant typhus, withoutonly in half the quantity, and always in any particular local affection. We have tothe form of a drink, for then alone they do to-night with that alone which is origi-will pass immediately into the fourth or nally connected with the respiratory pas-true stomach. In the treatment of cattle, sages.even more than in that of the horse, atten- Symptoms.-The cough is frequent andtion to comfort is required. A warm, but painful ; the flanks heave; the pulse isnot close or ill-ventilated cow-house is in- small, hard, frequent, and sometimes irre-dispensable. The powerful circulatory cur- gular ; the mouth hot ; the’root of the hornrent of this animal should be as equally cold; the faeces oftenest hard and black,diffused as possible. The cracklings and but at other times liquid, black, and fetid.tumours of which I have spoken indicate In a few days that symptom of almost everythe necessity of keeping the surface of the febrile affection of cattle decidedly appears .

body warm, and as you will find that the -extreme tenderness along the spine andinflammatory stage quickly passes, and ty- over the loins, so that the beast will shrinkphus under a more or. less malignant form at the slightest touch ; the cough is moresucceeds, I will allow you to do that which frequent and convulsive, and a brown orI was fearful of doing in the horse, to resort bloody matter runs from the nostrils andto other means to support the strength, and the mouth, while the animal holds his headrestore the tone of the system, than merely extended in order to be able to breathe;to arrest the progress of the fever. The the eyes are swelled and weeping; thedifferent destination of the horse and of patient grinds his teeth, and there is fre-cattle, and the different character assumed quent spasmodic contraction about the nos-by their diseases, require a correspond- trils ; the animal rarely lies down, or if heing difference of treatment, and aromatics does, almost immediately rises again. But’and vegetable tonics may in small doses be the eyes soon begin to become dim; thesooner combined with the febrifuge medi- pulse is smaller and feeble ; the respirationcine, or supersede it. Vegetable tonics, quicker ; the flanks tucked up ; the tender.however, must alone be resorted to, which, ness on the loins subsides, and the faeceswhile they give vigour to the digestive are liquid and black. The animal moans

system, and remove the debility consequent and lows, and grinds his teeth almost inces-on extensive inflammation of the mucous I santly ; the head is agitated by a convul-surfaces, have little effect in increasing the sive motion ; blood begins to mingle withforce of the circulation. The practice of the fceces; there is weakness and stagger-every scientific veterinarian, who has stu- ing ; offensive breath, nauseous perspira-died the diseases of cattle, has confirmed tion. Tumours and boils now break out inthis distinction. Ginger, caraways, gen- various parts ; if they break, and there istian, and colombo, are the recognised aro- considerable suppuration, the animal usuallymatics and tonics of the cattle pharma- recovers ; if they decrease or disappear, hecopoeia. as certainly dies ; yet if they do break,With these exceptions, the directions sloughing comes on, extensive and fetid,

given fur the treatment of epidemic catarrh beyond that which could be thought pos-in horses is applicable to the same disease sible.in cattle. Treatment.—Bleeding should be resorted

—— to in the very early stage of the complaint,but not when debility had begun to appear.

THE MALIGNANT CATARRHAL EPIDEMIC. Aperient medicine should be administeredWhile epidemic catarrh oftener assumes if the bowels were constipated; febrifuge

a malignant form in cattle than in horses, medicines either alone, or combined with

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vegetable tonics ; small doses of the chlorideof lime internally administered ; plenty ofit applied on the animal and about it, andthe most rigorous separation of the infectedfrom the sound.

In other Animals.—Sheep possess compa-rative immunity from this malignant epide-mic. The rot carries off enough of themwithout any other scourge. Dogs have nodisease of this character, except when dis-temper assumes a putrid type ; and swinehave rarely any disease that can properlybe said to be malignant.

BRONCHITIS.

We will pursue our course down the tra-chea to its bifurcation and termination inthe bronchial passages, and thee we oftenmeet with inflammation either connected Iwith, or the consequence of, other affections, ior principally there, or almost strictly con-fined to the bronchial passages. We desig-nate this inflammation by the name of bron-eltitis. It is a disease scarcely yet recog-nised among us, but often coming before us,although confounded with pneumonia, andrequiring some peculiarity of treatment.

Use of Auscultation in distinguishing thevarious Diseases of the Lungs.-Bronchitis isnot generally a primary disease. The in-flammation of the superior respiratory passages, constituting catarrh, gradually creepsand involves the larynx and the trachea,and at length the farthest and the minutestramifications of the air-tubes. When youfind that it is thus advancing, you willeagerly watch its progress by the assistanceof immediate auscultation. Recollect thebellows-like healthy sound of the trachea;that of the healthy lung resembles a deepand distant murmur. The verv word ex-

presses the sound. But the diseased lung,how shall you ascertain the seat, the de-

gree, the consequence of inflammation ?Careful attention to a very few cases willmake you perfect masters of this. Thedistant murmur of the healthy lung youcannot mistake ; nor the crackling crepitat-ing sound of pneumonia, inflammation ofthe substance of the lungs, or of the mem-brane lining the cells, or compartments or Idivisions of the minute lobuli. You bear (the blood filtering or breaking through these Idelicate membranes, and accounting forthat congestion, that filling of the cells withblood which is found after intense inflam-mation. The bronchiae are lined by a

mucous membrane, and, under inflamma-tion, the secretion of mucus is increased,and the tubes are partially obstructed. Theear, babitu.ited to the exploration of thechest, will detect this with as much cer-tainty as if the membrane had been fairlyexposed to view, by the whizzing sound, as

if the air were forcing itself through a

succession of bubbles. Inflammation pre-cedes this increased discharge of mucus:even that may be detected. The inflamedmembrane is thickened, tense ; it assumesan almost cartilaginous structure, and themurmur is not only louder, but has a kindof snoring sound. Some have imagined thata metallic ring is mingled with it. I havefancied something of the kind, but cannotsay that it was distinct and convincing.Although we cannot yet carry this so far

as the practitioner of human medicine does,we can derive most important advantage fromthe use of auscultation. We can at leastascertain the seat of inflammation : and thepresence of the morbid sound, or the gra-

dual recurrence of the healthy one, will

point out the extent of the disease; whileother indications, and obtained in the sameway, will as faithfully tell us the mischiefand disorganization occasioned by the in-flammation. Once more, Gentlemen, let meurge you carefully to study the indicationspresented by immediate auscultation. Theywill rarely deceive you, and you will nothave long accustomed yourselves to thismode of exploration without highly priz.

t ing- it.Symptoms of Bronchitis.—The interrupted

whizzing sound has clearly indicated a caseof bronchitis. There are many corrobora-tive symptoms which you should store inyour memories. The variable temperatureof the extremities will be an importantguide,—not deathy cold as in pneumonia,nor of increased temperature as often incatarrh, but with a tendency to coldness, yetnot always the same. The pulse will assistyour diagnosis,—more rapid than in catarrh,much more so than in the early stage ofpneumonia, not so hard as in pleurisy, moreso than in catarrh, and much more so thanin pneumonia. The respiration will next beexamined, abundantly more rapid than incatarrh, pneumonia, or pleurisy, generallyas rapid and often more so than the pulse,and accompanied by a wheezing sound,heard at some distance. Mr. Percivallrelates a case in which the respiration wasmore than one hundred in a minute. Mr.C. Percivall relates an interesting case inwhich the respiration was quick in the ex-treme ; and he remarks, that he does " notremember to have seen a horse with his re-spiration so disturbed."

I In addition to these clearly characteristicsymptoms, you will observe a haggardcountenance, to which the anxious look ofthe horse labouring under inflammation of! the lungs cannot for a moment be compared,and an evident duead of suffucotion, expressed,not by inability to move as in pneumonia,but frequently an obstinate refusal to move ;cough painful in the extreme ; breath hot,

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yet no marked pain in the part, no looking fall. This may probably effect your object,

at the side or flanks. if it does not, it is possible that you mayAs the disease proceeds, there will be not have a second opportunity.

considerable discharge from the nostrils, i You will be cautious in the administrationmuch more than in catarrh, because greater of a purgative, for the reasons that I haveextent of membrane is affected. It will be again and again stated ; but if the bowelsmuco-purulent at first, but will soon become are evidently constipated, you must giveamber-coloured or green, or greyish green, the small doses of aloes with the febrifugenot from any portion of the food being re- medicine, and promote their speedy actionturned, but from the peculiar hue of the by injections, so that a small quantity maysecretion from ulcers of the bronchial pas- suffice.sages. Small organized pieces will mingle B The febrifuge medicine so often recom-with the discharge,-portions of mucus con- mended must be administered here. Oursdensed and hardened, and forced from the seems to be as yet a small pharmacopoeia.inside of the tube. If the disease proceeds We shall enlarge it by-and-by, when wethe discharge becomes bloody, and then, have to speak of other systems and otherand sometimes earlier, it is fetid. diseases ; and, in the mean time, if we haveProgress.-The natural termination of this that which will generally effect our purposedisease if unchecked is in pneumonia. Al- we have all that we can desire.though we cannot trace the air-tubes to Some practitioners use the v;hite hellebore.their termination, the inflammation will I have already explained my reasons for

penetrate into the lobuli, and affect the giving the preference to digitalis, except wemembranes of the air-cells or divisions have the horse in our own infirmary, andwhich they contain. There is metastasis of can cautiously and hourly watch the effectinflammation oftener here than in pure of the drug. Mr. Percivall relates a very in-pneumonia, and the disease is most fre- teresting and instructive case. One of his

quently transferred to the feet. If, how- troop horses had bronchitis his respirationsever, there is neither pneumonia nor metas- reckoned upwards of a hundred per minute,tasis of inflammation, and the disease pur- he puffed hard at the nostrils, and heavedsues its course, the animal dies from suffo- laboriously and painfully with his flanks,cation. If the air-passages are clogged, and his countenance betrayed extreme in-there can be no supply of arterialized blood. ward oppression. He was bled, and, in the

Frequently a false membrane, aud or- course of thirty-six hours, three drachmsganized to a considerable degree, lines the of hellebore were administered. Twelvebronchial passage, under which there exists hours after the last dose he was found lyinginflammation of the intensest kind, and down-one minute extended upon his side,penetrating into the parenchyma of the the next lying with his head raised up,lungs. puffing violently at the flanks, looking back

Epidemic.—Like every other inflamma- at his belly, and pawing. The pulse hadtion of the respiratory passages bronchitis sunk so low that it could hardly be felt. Anis clearly epidemic. There is a disposition ounce of laudanum was given to him iuto inflammation in the respiratory apparatus gruel; lie soon became tranquil ; the re-

generally, but it depends on some unknown spiration subsided, and he recovered.atmospheric influence whether this shall A blister is always indicated in bronchitistake on the form of catarrh, bronchitis, or -it can never do harm, and it not unfre-pneumonia. I am not, however, prepared quently affords decided relief. It shouldto say that it is contagious ; at least I extend over the brisket and sides, and upnever saw a case in which I had reason to the trachea to the larynx.suppose that the disease had this origin. His food, if he is disposed to eat, should

Treatment.—Here again your first step be mashes. No corn should be offered, norwill be to bleed, and here too will be the should the horse be coaxed to eat.paramount necessity of your personal at-’ ____

tendance while the animal is bled. This is adisease of a mucous,-an extended mucous I

BRONCHITIS IN CATTLE.

surface,-and although our measures must This is peculiarly the disease of cattle.be prompt, there is a tendency to debility Every minor inflammation of the respiratorywhich we should never forget. Although I passages seems to terminate in bronchitis inhave sometimes seen the horse distressed these animals, as regularly as it does inquite to the extent which -Alr. Charles pneumonia in the horse.Pereivall describes, yet he would not bear Cause.—The principal and sadly neglect-the loss of four pounds of blood without ed cause is that winter cough, which cruelfainting. You will order, or you will take neglect generally produced, and which in-no determinate quantity, but vou will bleed attention and idleness have suffered to con-until the pulse falters, and the animal tinue. Cough is so frequent in the cow-staggers, and in a minute or two would house, that neither the herdsman nor the

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proprietor takes the slightest notice of it. The food of the animal is often not aIt is most frequent after feeding or water- little concerned in the production of cough,ing, and it goes on for weeks and months, and even bronchitis. I have seen many aand no harm-seems to be done; but, at chest affection rapidly and fatally succeed-length. the animal begins to lose flesh, and ing to the substitution of mouldy hay, andthe milk diminishes. Then, and when it is bad straw for wholesome food.too late, the farmer begins to look about In proportion to the purity of the breed,him. It is now confirmed bronchitis, com- and especially if the in-and-in systemplicated with inflammation of the paren- has been too closely followed, is the pre-chvma of the lungs. The false membrane disposition to these chest complaints.of which I have spoken in the horse lines I ’I’o young cattle bronchitis is particularlythe bronchial tubes-the inflammation of destructive. When they are kept in thethe mucous coat beneath is intense-the straw yard during winter upon scanty food,foundation is laid for consumption-the ani- and the forward ones drive the othersmal becomes a mere skeleton, and they who I about, and scarcely permit them to eat atare accustomed to cattle will understand all, pulmonary complaints are exceedinglyme when I say, that the poor beast crawls frequent from the combined influence ofabout with merely a dry skin covering a set wet and cold, and fear and hunger.of creaking joints. Bronchitis from TVorms.-There is one

The moment the cow with cough is in the species of bronchitis which must not passslightest degree off her feed, she should be without observation. A yearling has oftenattended to ; indeed, the simple fact of her a cough unusually distressing. The inter-

having violent cough, should induce the missions are short, the paroxysms exceed-farmer to adopt some remedial measures, ingly violent. The beast is off his feed,She should be bled ; a dose of physic should hide-bound, his belly tucked up, his coatbe given, and a few febrifuge drinks ; she staring, his flanks heaving, and it is almostshould be placed in a sheltered comfortable heart-breaking to hear him cough. This

place, and have a good mash given her occurs principally on low marshy, woodyevery day. land; and is confined to young cattle, andThe prevailing causes of this inflamma- principally yearlings. The farmer knowstion of the bronchial passages are various. too well what is the matter, and the uni-If any of the southern breeds are trans- form fatality of the complaint, and he eitherplanted far north, they will require a great slaughters the animal at once, or suffers himdeal of attention and nursing, in order to to take his chance, and rarely or neverward off this insidious and fatal affection. requires the veterinarian’s aid. The beastI have been twice consulted respecting a at length dies, and the whole of the bron-beautiful short-horned breed, which had chial passages are found to be completelybeen introduced into the northern counties choked up with worms. They are of theof Scotland, and the greater part of which strongylus species, and either the filaria ordied evidently consumptive in less than the veinulos2is, but chiefly the former. Manytwo years. In the first case, I recom- of them are also found in the trachea ; andmended one cross with the native breed, and the mucous membrane of the trachea andthen to go back to the Durhams. It perfectly bronehise presents an appearance of the in-succeeded. A constitution better suited to tensest inflammation, and by which the ani-the climate was acquired, and after one or mal was destroyed.two generations the form of the short-horn The generation of these parasitical ani-seemed to be scarcely affected, and cer- mals will be best discussed when we come

tainly not one good quality was impaired. to the consideration of the different entozoaIn the other case this was peremptorily of the intestinal canal. In the human being

objected to: the deterioration of the breed worms are oftenest found in an injuriouswas regarded as certain. Then by gradually quantity, in a cold and moist state of theusing less nursing when the animal was well, atmosphere ; in moist situations ; and espe-and a good deal more as soon as this cough cially in those that are covered with theappeared, and by early bleeding, and the vegetable productions peculiar to such ause of the febrifuge drink, we prevented locality ; in young subjects ; and where

any confirmed bronchitis, and the cattle the constitution is somewhat enfeebled.were gradually inured to their new and We have all these predisposing causes

colder climate. here, and yet the generation of these ani-Unnecessary exposure to, and over-anx- mals, and the mode by which they are in-

ions care to preserve them from cold and troduced into the system, are perfect mys-wet, are equally injurious. Cough, and all teries.its worst consequences, are never more fre- Whether they are the cause or effect;quent than in a hot and crowded cow- whether amidst the vitiated secretion of thehouse, and to which fresh air is rarely inflamed mucous membrane of the bronchiae,admitted. the ova find their proper and destined nidue,

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and are there hatched into life; or themembrane is irritated and inflamed by thepresence of these parasites, deposited erethe part was diseased, are subjects that willbe better illustrated hereafter. In point offact, they are found to occupy the whole ofthe bronchia:, and by the irritation which

they produce they destroy the beast.

Treatment.—The question that most con-cerns us now, is the mode by which theyare to be got rid of. Nothing can be broughtto bear upon them immediately. No tur-

pentine or other fluid destructive to wormscan be introduced into the bronchial tubes.Can any deleterious gas be employed? Canit be introduced into the system in a quan-tity not sufficient to injure the beast, yetwith the chance of destroying these vermin! ?Might pieces of tow, impregnated with asolution of chlorine, be spread over thetrachea, and particularly the lower part of

Bit Or might the animal be shut into a closeplace, and made to breathe diluted chlorinegas, or nitrous acid gas ? A portion of itwould pass the watchful sentinels in thenasal cavities, and at the entrance into the elarynx, and possibly enough to effect thedfsired purpose. The animal would be nota little annoyed, he would for a while coughwith even greater violence, and the wormsdying, or their hold loosened, might be ex-pelled. This is really worth trying, andshould you succeed, Gentlemen, you wouldgain much credit, and confer an essentialbenefit on your country ; for thousands of

young cattle are destroyed every year bythese worms in the air-tubes.

Oil of turpentine is peculiarly destruc-tive to worms. It is also one of those drugsthat enter into the circulation ; that are

recognizable in the urine and the breath,and produce their effect by immediate corn-tact with the part on which they operate.Can it, through the medium of the circula-tion, be brought into contact with theseworms? It is worth the trial. Or are theremedicines which promote expectoration orloosen the morbidly viscid mucus secretedin these tubes, and cause it to be moreeasily discharged in the act of coughing.There is no doubt that certain drugs effectthis purpose in the human being; the exha-lents of the bronchiæ under their mfluellce

pour out an increased quantity of mucus,and that far less adhesive, and expelledwith little difficulty From the erroneoushabit of contracting our Pharmacopoeia, andshunning almost every drug in which thehuman practitioner places confidence, wehave made few experiments for thie pur.pose even on the horse, and none on cattle.The turpentine should take the precedencein this mode of treatment, and that failing,

- it might be worth while to try the effect of

squills or gum benzoin, or the balsams ofPeru or Tolu.

Worms ira the Bronchial Passcrges of otherAnimals.—Sheep are far less troubled withthese worms than young cattle, but severalcases are on record in which the bronehiasof these animals have been filled with the

strongyli. In the deer they are oftenerfound. They are exceedingly troublesome,and often fatal in the hog, and they destroythousands of poultry. In the year 1822almost all the pheasants in Colonel Berke-lev’s preserves died, and on examiningthem the bronchial passages were chokedwith worms. Turpentine might be ad.ministered to the sheep and the hog;—tobirds it is poisonous.

CLINICAL LECTURE

ON A CASE OF

STRICTURE AT THE SIGMOIDFLEXURE OF THE COLON.

BY

FREDERICK SALMON,

Senior Surgeon to the General Dispensary,Aldersgate Street,

DELIVERED AT THE INSTITUTION

March 31, 1832.

GENTLEMEN,—The task of refuting opi.nions long entertained on any subject is anexceedingly difficult one, more especiallywhen those opinions have emanated frommen who rank high as philosophers possessedeither of great learning or great genius.This consideration,coupled with the circum-stance that the present is the first occasionupon which I have attempted to deliver mysentiments before an assemblage of mymedical brethren, will, I trust, incline youto extend your indulgence towards me. In-deed I think I may ask this favour as anact of justice, not alone for the reasons juststated, but also on account of the importanceof the subject, which, though not altogethernew, may be said to be one with which themedical public is but ill acquainted. Solittle indeed is known respecting it, thatthere are not wanting many among its mem-bers who doubt even the existence of sucha disease as stricture of the rectum. I my-self have the pleasure of ranking amongstmy friends some who entertain this belief.

By a reference to the lectures of the va.rious teachers of surgery, you will find thatwhile some of them make no memion of thisdisease, others either allude to it super-ficially, or describe it as one beyond the

’ power of surgical aid. It would be im-