The term asthma should properly be limited to one morbid condition. Veterinarians distinguish between the congestive and spasmodic forms. The congestive and more common affection observed among dogs, is due to an inflamed state of the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes. In a great majority of cases bronchitis exists, and the susceptibility to the exciting causes is increased by its presence. The disease is more common in old age, and among obese, over fed, house dogs. The predisposing causes are derangement of the circulatory system, such as heart and lung diseases, and chronic indigestion.

Causation

The existing causes are many; cold from exposure, acute bronchial inflammation, and certain inhalations are particularly liable to bring on an attack.

Symptoms

Labored efforts of breathing prompted by a sense of suffocation, croupy respirations not increased in rapidity, and at times less in number than normal. Inspiration jerking, expiration accompanied with a wheezing sound. Distress and greater difficulty in breathing on exertion. Nostrils dilating, expression piteous and anxious. Cough in many instances exists prior to, or manifests itself during an attack of asthma. A dilatation of the air cells is generally associated with this disease if severe and of long standing.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is not difficult; the disease has such distinctive differences, it need not be confounded with other affections in which labored breathing is a prominent symptom.

Prognosis

The significance of the disease depends upon the causes and conditions which induce it. In itself, asthma is not an affection likely to prove fatal, but it must necessarily shorten life.

Treatment

During an attack a prompt emetic of the sulphate of zinc twenty grains, or ipecac thirty grains, will afford relief. This should be followed with a cathartic of syrup buckthorn and castor oil, of each one half a tablespoonful. If the violence of the attack does not subside, the animals should be shut into a closed room, and on a pan of coals, stramonium leaves be burned, to an ounce of which, a drachm of nitrate of -potassa has been added. This measure will relax the spasm, and induce expectoration. To relieve the co-existing bronchitis, should next be attempted, and the following given -

℞ Potass. Chloratis ℥ ij.

Tinct. Belladonna ℥ iss.

Tinct. Cinchonae Comp. ℥ ij Aquae ℥ ij.

Ft. Mist. Sig. Dose a dessertspoonful four times a day.

If the animal is too fat and gross, excrelse should be insisted upon, the diet simplified, and a laxative be given daily unless the condition of the bowels contra-lndicate. The following pill will be found efficacious. - ℞ Ext. Aloee Aq. gr. xv.

Ext. Colocynth. Comp. gr. xv Podophyllin gr. iv.

Ext. Nucls Vomicae gr. iv.

Ft Pll. No xij- Sig. Dose one daily. In the treatment of asthma the laws of hygiene should be observed in kennelling and all exciting causes removed.

A radical cure la doubtful, but much can be done to mitigate the disease. With a possible chance of success, the iodide of potassium should be fully-fully tried in all cases, and persevered in for some weeks. It may be given in the following mixture. -

℞ Potass. Iodidi ℥ ij.

Spts. Ammoniae Arom. ℥i Tinct. Quassiae Aquae a a ℥ ij.

Ft. Mist. Sig. Dose one teaspoonful three times daily. In the purely spasmodic form of asthma, the burning of stramonium and saltpetre will be found especially efficacious, and the fluid extract of grindelia robusta in one half teaspoonful doses may be given every hour until relief is manifested.