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Show 182 MR. J. B. SUTTON ON T H E [Mar. 18, are prone to become the seat of disease; hence the so-called predilection of disease to attack particular structures. Examples of rule b will be given in treating of diseases of the ovaries. Diseases of the Organs of Bespiration. Diseases of the lungs, in some form or other, make fearful havoc among these creatures, the three most common affections being Bronchitis, Pneumonia, and Pleurisy. Bronchitis.-This condition of lung is most frequent among Lions, Tigers, and Leopards. It is very unsatisfactory to say that a beast died of this affection unless one has seen the creature during life ; but with the bronchi containing much frothy mucus and no other visible lesion, it is always with much reluctance I assent to have this word written in the death column. In rickety animals there is no need for doubt, as with soft, yielding thoracic parietes, even a slight attack of bronchitis in young animals is very quickly fatal. Pneumonia (Lobar).-This is frequently met with among Carnivora ; it runs through the usual stages as observed in man-engorgement, red and grey hepatization. From my observations it would appear that death in the engorgement stage is of more common occurrence than in man. Bears are particularly subject to pneumonia, and in them the inflammatory products, instead of resolving, break down into pus. The posterior lobe of one lung is affected, but the morbid material in its course along the bronchi, and into the trachea, is drawn into the opposite lung by inspiration, so that the portion of lung immediately in the neighbourhood of the larger bronchi of the unaffected lung becomes affected, secondarily, by the morbid material thus inspired. Pleurisy.-Double pleurisy is exceedingly common among the wild Carnivora, as it is in the domestic Cat (I exclude from this list those cases of pleurisy arising from inflammation set up by the presence of parasites in the lungs). The disease is usually double, and of long standing ; the fluid breaks down the barrier between the two pleural cavities, so that they form by means of organized inflammatory material one continuous cavity. The lung-substance becomes condensed and carnified by the pressure of fluid, which often amounts to two gallons ; this interferes with respiration, and the animal dies. This has caused the Society the loss of several very fine animals. The condition of the lung in collapse is so very interesting that it will be well to give a few details respecting it. Condensation, Atelectasis, or Apneurnatosis are terms used to signify the condition of the lungs before birth, or in other words lung-tissue which has never contained air. After respiration has been established, if from any cause the lung be rendered airless, as by the pressure of a tumour or particularly of fluid in the pleura, a return to the foetal condition is brought about. A lung which is thus collapsed is often referred to as being in " a state of carnifi-cation," on account of the fleshy appearance it presents on section ; this alone is sufficient to distinguish it from pneumonic lung, notwithstanding that it sinks in water. |