Common Ailments. 77 



except that the decoction is very cooHng 

 and potent in allaying inflammation, wheth- 

 er taken internally to subdue fever, or used 

 as a wash in cases of irritation of the skin 

 caused by hunting" your dog over a country 

 infested with briers or saw grass, while as 

 a lotion for ground ivy poisoning it has no 

 equal. 



Nourishing food that would digest easily 

 was freely given ; strong beef or mutton 

 broth, raw beef minced fine, milk and raw 

 eggs were the principal articles relied upon, 

 changing these as was thought would tempt 

 the appetite. Three and sometimes four 

 meals a day were given, and if the patient 

 refused to eat at the usual time of feedine, 

 the necessary amount of food was poured 

 down his throat, unless he appeared to be 

 holding his strength in a satisfactory man- 

 ner. When this course was necessary, 

 great care was taken that he was not irri- 

 tated by the operation. The patient was 

 at all times kept as quiet as possible, and 



