Part 11

Symptoms. In the milder forms of coryza the symptoms may be almost exclusively local, consisting in redness and dryness of the membrane lining the nose and sneezing, soon followed by the bilateral discharge of a thin transparent watery liquid, succeeded by a turbid flow (epithelial cells in excess) and after two or three days by a thick, white, flocculent, puriform fluid (suppuration diapedesis). With the supervention of the purulent discharge, comes an abatement of the local inflammation and the freer the discharge the greater usually is the relief obtained and the more rapid the recovery. The eyes are usually red and watery and sometimes the eyelids are swollen. This implies the continuity of the inflammation through the lachrymo-nasal duct, and the obstruction to the flow of tears into the nose.

When constitutional disturbance exists a rough or staring coat appears as one of the first symptoms, the sneezing is more violent, the nasal mucous membrane is more reddened and swollen, the eyes more dull, sunken and watery, the mouth hot and clammy, the temperature of the body raised, the pulse more frequent and having a sharper beat, the impulse of the heart may often be felt by applying the hand to the chest just behind the left elbow, the appetite is fastidious and the secretions of the bowels and kidneys are diminished, the latter being denser and more highly colored, from the absorption of irritating or infecting matters the glands under the throat are swollen and the swelling of the mucous membrane may be such as to impair breathing and even to threaten suffocation. In severe cases in which the inflammation extends to the nasal sinuses there is heat and tenderness over the forehead and the pain and weight are manifested by the pendent head and the red sunken, watery eyes and tumefied eyelids. When it extends to the throat, the cough, the difficulty in swallowing and the local tenderness on handling are characteristic.

Course. With the occurrence of suppuration, improvement commences and if the inflammation does not extend beyond the nasal chambers, and if it is not kept up by a repetition or continuance of the cause the disease will have terminated in recovery in eight or ten days. For ulterior consequences in bad cases see chronic catarrh, conjunctivitis, abscess of the nasal sinuses, laryngitis, stomatitis, staphylitis.

Treatment. In slight cases the simplest treatment only is required. Place the animal in a dry, airy, loose box, clear of draughts, and with uniform temperature of 55° to 60° Fah., if obtainable. In the cold season blanket warmly, and hand-rub and loosely flannel bandage the legs. Feed on sloppy bran mashes only and add half an ounce to an ounce of powdered nitrate of potash daily. Give fresh water ad libitum, solicit the action of the bowels by giving injections of warm water three times a day, and encourage the nasal discharge by causing the patient to inhale steam for half an hour or an hour twice daily. This may be done by giving scalded bran in a nose-bag or by keeping the head over a bucket containing hay with boiling water poured over it, the steam being meanwhile directed by a bag open at both ends one of which is fixed around the animal’s nose and the other round the mouth of the bucket. As a local astringent, tonic and antiseptic the fumes of sulphur (burned behind the animal and no more concentrated than can be breathed with comfort) will do much to cut short the attack. It is more soothing if combined with steam. Shut doors and windows, add a few drops of alcohol to some pinches of sulphur and burn on paper laid on a clean shovel or piece of sheet iron. When enough has been used extinguish by covering with a cup or other object. Repeat several times a day. Under this treatment recovery may be completed in three or four days.

In severe cases attended with fever, besides the above a dose of laxative medicine may be given (three or four drachms of aloes), with this precaution, that if the fever is of a low type or the malady epizootic, half the dose only can be safely allowed (2 dr.) on account of the danger of superpurgation. The nostrils must be more assiduously steamed and linseed tea may advantageously replace fresh water as a beverage. If there is much swelling and tenderness of the glands a poultice should be applied to the throat and between the jaws, and sulphur fumes as advised above, or anodyne astringent insufflation powder may be resorted to. Morphia chlorate two grains, bismuth nitrate, six drachms and finely powdered gum arabic three drachms may be blown into the nostril during inspiration, or the astringent anodyne injection advised below for chronic catarrh may be used. Cocaine spray is often very helpful, or the same agent may be used in the liquid form on cotton wool inserted in the nasal chamber. If this is without effect a weak continuous current of electricity will cause constriction and give prompt relief. It may be repeated every few hours. In the absence of this the emanations from a weak solution of ammonia or from carbonate of ammonia may be used. In cases with excessive and persistent muco-purulent discharge, with presumptive infection from outside sources, or in the young, from the diseased maternal passages, insufflation with calomel, painting with a two grains to the ounce solution of nitrate of silver, or injection with some other germicide may be resorted to.

In case the fever is of a low type, liquor of the acetate of ammonia (4 ozs.), salammoniac (¼ oz.), or even carbonate of ammonia (½ oz.), may be given several times a day, with sweet spirits of nitre (½ oz.) and tincture of gentian (1 oz.) Alcoholic stimulants are often used. Inhalations of iodine and iodide of potassium with ether and chloroform are often successful.

SIMPLE CORYZA IN CATTLE.

Coryza mild in cattle. General treatment. Coryza in sheep from exposure, intemperate seasons, clipping. Acute and chronic. Wholesale treatment in flocks. Coryza in pigs. Coryza in dogs, simple, secondary. Treatment, food, laxative, febrifuge, nauseating, expectorant, antiseptic, gaseous, electric.

This is usually a very simple malady when confined to the nasal chambers, and not of infective origin. When, on the other hand, it attacks the sinuses it becomes a disease of extreme gravity. (See Catarrh of the Sinuses). Symptoms are as seen in the horse, but the discharge may be overlooked because of the animal licking it out with his tongue. Treatment does not essentially differ from that laid down above, and recovery may be expected in seven or eight days. If a laxative is wanted give from one to two pounds Epsom salts.

SIMPLE CORYZA IN SHEEP.

Coryza is usually slight and is manifested by sneezing and running from the nose. It occurs in animals clipped or badly sheltered during the more inclement seasons. In the worst cases the discharge becomes persistent and emaciation ensues so that it is necessary to interfere. Valuable animals may be treated on the same principles as oxen, and in the case of large flocks by shelter in a warm, dry, cleanly and airy place and fumigations of steam and the fumes of burning sulphur repeated daily, together with nourishing diet, such as boiled barley or other grain, and quarter ounce doses of nitre and common salt.

CORYZA IN THE PIG.

Hogs are not very subject to this disease and are easily treated by warm, sloppy food, and as a laxative three or four croton beans, according to size, powdered and given in the aliment.

CORYZA IN DOGS.

Dogs are rarely the subjects of simple coryza, though it is constant in distemper. It sometimes proves troublesome in puppies and old dogs. A laxative (½–1 ounce castor oil) may be followed in strong and very feverish cases by tartar emetic (¼—½ grain) three times a day. Spraying or sponging the nose with a weak solution of chlorate of potass, common salt, or potassium permanganate will greatly relieve. Inhalation from burning sulphur, or from carbonate of ammonia, or both may be used when sponging or spraying is difficult. In inveterate cases, the weak electric current sent through the cheeks, or the insufflation of acetanilid, iodoform or calomel may be tried. As a rule, saltpeter in five grain doses, given in the water, will prove helpful, and in weak conditions wine, tincture of gentian or nux vomica may be used.

CHRONIC NASAL, CATARRH. NASAL GLEET. OZŒNA IN THE HORSE.

Chronic catarrh in horse, simple form, loss of tone, inflammation, nature of discharge, glandular swellings, differentiation from glanders. Treatment, astringent, tonic, stimulant, hygienic, locally astringents, antiseptics, injections.

A chronic discharge from the nose is often seen in the horse as a sequel of coryza or sore throat, or as an attendant on other affections of the upper air passages, and the different conditions productive of this symptom may here be noticed.

1ST. SIMPLE NASAL CATARRH. NASAL GLEET. OZŒNA.

In long standing coryza the nasal mucous membrane becomes relaxed, fails to acquire its lost tone and continues to pour out a muco-purulent product. This is really a persistence of inflammation of a low type, under the influence of which the membrane secretes pus in place of its normal mucus. The discharge is white, thick, creamy, has little tenacity, and flows uninterruptedly. There may be slight enlargement of the submaxillary glands, and if the case is of long standing and the patient in low condition sores may appear on the mucous membrane. These ulcers are distinguished from those of glanders by the absence of the unhealthy angry aspect and excavated borders of the latter, by the absence of the small nodular deposits on the mucosa, by the less viscid nature of the secretion, and by the absence of submaxillary swellings, or if these exist, by their being less nodular, less indurated and less firmly attached to surrounding parts. The coincidence of ulcers and submaxillary swellings is always, however, matter for the gravest suspicion, and such cases should, as a rule, be subjected to the mallein test. (See Glanders and Farcy).

Treatment. In simple nasal catarrh, due alone to the relaxation of the mucous membrane, the internal use of tonics and the local application of astringent solutions to the nose rapidly restore the parts to a healthy state.

Among stimulants, cubebs, cayenne pepper and copaiba have a stimulating and styptic effect on the mucous membrane and each of these has been successfully used in such cases. Cantharides, in five grain doses, have proved even more successful, (Vines, Percivall). Sulphate of Copper in drachm doses in mucilage night and morning has proved very efficient (Sewell, Percivall). Arsenious Acid has been employed with still better results. The dose, of five grains may be intimately mixed with a scruple of bicarbonate of soda and given daily in food.

Footnote 1:

In giving this agent, any redness or watering of the eyes, or colicy pain should be carefully watched for, and when these premonitory symptoms of poisoning are noticed the medicine should be at once suspended to be commenced a few days later in smaller doses.

But the most efficient tonic in these cases is arseniate of strychnia. Its good effects may be secured by combining with the above mentioned powders of arsenious acid and bicarbonate of soda, half a drachm of powdered nux vomica for each dose. These powders will usually be taken in food, and may be continued for a month, or until the discharge ceases.

Footnote 2:

Whenever nux vomica or its alkaloids, strychnia or brucia, are given, increased irritability and nervousness should be carefully watched for and especially any involuntary twitching of the muscles. On their appearance the agent must be suspended and commenced a few days later in half the former doses.

In all cases the general health must be carefully attended to. Keep the patient in a dry, clean, airy building without draughts of cold air; give moderate exercise in the open air; and good grooming; and allow nutritious food of mildly laxative properties,—as occasional bran mashes and roots in winter and succulent grasses in summer.