Liflammtttion of the hungsi. 87 



orgai>, so essential to life as the lungs, and, therefore, a rational 

 mode of practice would suggest to us, the propriety of stinting the 

 Horse with regard to food, were he ever so much inclined to take it^ 

 "whilst affected with this dangerous disease. But, the truth is, that ia 

 tliis, and almost all the other inflammatory diseases of parts essential 

 to life, in the Horse, the functions of the stomach are either very 

 much impaired, or altogether suspended by all-provident and benc^ 

 volent nature, who distinctly points to us her intentions, b}- the de- 

 cisive and unequivocal symptom of want of appetite. But these, 

 her salutary intentions, are too often frustrated by the officious zeal 

 or folly, of those who act as nurses, and who are generally, either 

 too much prejudiced, or too ignorant, to take a hint from her clearest 

 indications. The effects of this common and egregious error, are 

 indeed always inimical, and not unfrequently fatal, to the animal ; 

 as has been more distinctly pointed out in another part of this work. 

 For, the stomach not possessing the powers adequate to convert into 

 chyme, the substances which are thus forced into it, they will under- 

 go the same chemical changes, which would take place in them 

 under the like circumstances of heat and moisture, out of the living- 

 body. ThuSi it will be perceived, that the practice of drenching 

 Horses in this disease, with the view of nourishing them, can be 

 proper in no case whatsoever. For, even were the stomach posessed 

 of its ordinary powers of converting the food into chyme, and were 

 the other stages of the Digestive Process to be perfected, all this 

 by adding, to the stock, of blood, would only operate to the disadvan- 

 tage of tlie animal, so long as high active inflammation were going 

 on in the substance of the lungs, or in the pleura. A less delete- 

 liouB consequence (which is nevertheless greatly to be deprecated) is. 



