Respiratory Distress in a Newborn Foal with Failure to form Lung Lining Film

Abstract

A SYNDROME in newborn thoroughbred foals, characterized by irregular respiration, convulsions, and lung pathology, has been described already¹, and its resemblance to the respiratory distress syndrome of the newborn human noted. This latter condition is associated with the absence of the surface active lung lining complex, or lung surfactant²; this absence can be investigated by observation of bubbles obtained from the lung³. From normal lungs bubbles of very low surface tension which show great stability in air-saturated water can be obtained^4,5. The present case demonstrates the common factors operating in the two syndromes in the different species.