The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-11-25

An animal which to-day is in perfect
health, breathing regularly and without
pain or difficulty, suddenly. without IS.
signable cause, suffers from irritation OF
the membrane which lines the air pas
sages, and immediately becomes con-
scious of the entrance Ut the air. which
formerly produced no impression on the
parts in their healthy sondition. This
extreme sensibility continues for time,
then gradually ceases. ard the respira-
ton is carried on as before without any
pain, or even consciousness on the part
of the animal of the presence OF the at
mosphcre which just before had proved
SO irritating.
It is usual to refer an attack ut cold
to sudden change of temperature. eth
er from cold to hot or the reverse, au-
thorities not being agreed as to which
kind of change is the most dangerous;
but, although in many cases cold Is
contracted under these circumstances.
it is a matter of observation that they
only act upon a small percentage OF the
individuals who are exposed to them;
and it follows that there must be GER
tain tendency or susceptibility in the
system of the animal before the atmos-
pheric influences can produce any lnJu-
rious effects. This susceptibility to the
action of the causes of disease is q sub
iect on which much has been said and
written, but we are as far from COM
pretending its true character as ever
we were. There are no signs exhibited
by the susceptible subject which will
enable the observer to form any opin-
ion as to the degree Of susceptibility,
and, in fact, there are no means OF de-
Gliding whether or not an animal is sus'
ceptible to a particular affection. with
out bringing 1t under the influences Of
the causes of the disease in question.
Ordinary diseases of the breathing
organs are likely to effect all kinds Of
animals under certain circumstances;
in other words, it may be said that 8
large number of animals on the farm are
more or less susceptible to the effects
of exposure to inclement weather and to
atmospheric changes. The degree OF sus'
ceptibility differs widely in different
subjects; and there is no doubt that 1t
may be highly cultivated by the adop
ton of an artificial system of breeding
and feeding stock. 1t is an inevitable
consequence of natural selection thai
a hardy race is produced, the weakly
subjects certainly succumbing to the
adverse conditions with which they are
surrounded; but in domesticatiOn the
conditions are modified, and the preser
walton of the weekly becomes an objec
which is pursued with certain amount
of success. the total result being tina
the more highly an animal is cultivated
the more necessary it becomes to KEEP
it from exposure to those adverse con
ditions which in a natural state OF ex
istence it would have resisted.
Common cold is not a disease of seri
Gus Importance in itself; but during it
continuance the system is in a febril
state, and therefore prone to any IN
fiammatory affection. Animals suffer
inc from cold show an increase of in
ternal tempe nature, with an unstabl
state of the mucous membrane which oc
casions coughing and sneezing.
Pathologists recognize several distinc
stages into which cold during its prog
ress may be divided. First, there is tn
dry stage, in which the membrane
the air passages is red, from excess {
blood in the vessels; dry, from the at
sence of the natural secretion, an
tumid, from the distended state OF tn
blood vessels. This stage is the mos
dangerous, IS the febrile state assume
its most pronounced form.
In the second stage the distended We
sells relieve themselves by pouring fort
Serious fluid, which covers the surfac
of the membranes, but. from its water
nature, does not afford any protectio
to the irritable surface.
After a time the secretion from tt
mucous membrane assumes more of tt
true characters of mucous; but it
poured out in large quantities, and give
rise to discharge from the nasal opel
ing. This third stage of the disease
true catarrh. The irritability OF IL
> mucous membrane is materially dimi1
ished during the mucous stage of a col
in fact, the occurrence of the dischars
: may be looked upon as the first ste
toward recovery,-London Field.