134 MODERN FARRIER. 



surfeit ; in full habits of body, where proper exercise 

 has been neglected, and when a horse breathes with 

 difficulty on the least exercise. On the other hand, 

 bleeding is to be avoided in cases of all inflammatory 

 swellings after matter has formed. It is also to be 

 avoided in all cases of extreme lowness or weakness, 

 produced by fatigue or disease, or after strong eva- 

 cuations by purging, or scouring, or diabetes, or ex- 

 cessive staling. 



* Bleeding is also improper during the time of a 

 horse's moulting, or shedding his coat; in fact, it 

 should never be practised except some more sub- 

 stantial reason can be given than the mere plea of 

 custom at certain periods of the year.' 



Mr. White, in his Materia Medica, says, ' When 

 a horse appears dull and heavy, and indifferent 

 about his food, by bleeding we often prevent a 

 fever. If a horse is bled at the commencement of a 

 cold, the complaint generally proves moderate, and 

 of short continuance. In all cases of internal in- 

 flammation, or symptomatic fever, bleeding is the 

 most essential remedy, provided the operation be 

 performed at an early period, and the blood drawn 

 in sufficient quantity. In such cases I have often 

 taken away five quarts, and repeated the operation 

 the following day, when it appeared necessary. By 

 bleeding copiously at first, these formidable diseases 

 are crushed at once; while by suffering them to ] 

 proceed, or become at all violent, which they will 

 do unless this practice is adopted, (or if only a small 

 quantity of blood is drawn,) they generally prove 

 fatal ; nor will bleeding then be of an}' service.' 



Mr. Clark of Edinburgh, in his work on prevent- 

 ing diseases in horses, remarks, ' that although the 

 cases which may require bleeding are numerous, yet 

 there is one general ciuition to be observed, viz. 

 never to take away blood but when it is absolutely 

 necessary ; as it is a fluid that may be easily taken 

 away, but cannot be so easily replaced ; besides, that 



