244 INFLAMMATION. 



driven through the capillaries of an inflamed part, and in which this change is 

 effected, more heat will necessarily be produced there ; and the pain is easily- 

 accounted for by the distension and pressure which must be produced, and the 

 participation of the nerves in the disturbance of the surrounding parts. 



If inflammation consists of an increased flow of blood to and through the part, 

 the ready way to abate it is to lessen the quantity of blood. If we take away 

 the fuel, the fire will go out. All other means are comparatively unimportant, 

 contrasted with bleeding. Blood is generally abstracted from the jugular vein, and 

 so the general quantity may be lessened ; but if it can be taken from the neigh- 

 bourhood of the diseased part, it will be productive of tenfold benefit. One quart 

 of blood abstracted from the foot in acute founder, by unloading the vessels of the 

 inflamed part, and enabling them to contract, and, in that contraction, to acquire 

 tone and power to resist future distension, will do more good than five quarts 

 taken from the general circulation. An ounce of blood obtained by scarifying 

 the swelled vessels of the inflamed eye, will give as much relief to that organ 

 as a copious bleeding from the jugular. It is a principle in the animal frame 

 which should never be lost sight of by the veterinary surgeon, or the horseman, 

 that if by bleeding the process of inflammation can once be checked, if it can 

 be suspended but for a little while, although it may return, it is never 

 with the same degree of violence, and in many cases it is got rid of entirely. 

 Hence the necessity of bleeding early, and bleeding largely, in inflammation of 

 the lungs, or of the bowels, or of the brain, or of any important organ. Many 

 horses are lost for want or insufficiency of bleeding, but we never knew one 

 materially injured by the most copious extraction of blood in the early stage 

 of acute inflammation. The horse will bear, and with advantage, the loss of an 

 almost incredible quantity of blood, four quarts taken from him, will be com- 

 paratively little more than one pound taken from the human being. We 

 can scarcely conceive of a considerable inflammation of any part of the 

 horse, whether proceeding from sprains, contusions, or any other cause in which 

 bleeding, local (if possible), or general, or both, will not be of essential service. 



Next in importance to bleeding, is purging. Something may be removed 

 from the bowels, the retention of which would increase the general irritation 

 and fever. The quantity of blood will be materially lessened, for the serous 

 or watery fluid which is separated from it by a brisk purge, the action of which 

 in the horse continues probably more than twenty-four hours, is enormous. 

 While the blood is thus determined to the bowels, less even of that which 

 remains will flow through the inflamed part. When the circulation is directed 

 to one set of vessels, it is proportionately diminished in other parts. It was first 

 directed to the inflamed portions, and they were overloaded and injured, it is 

 now directed to the bowels, and the inflamed parts are relieved. While the 

 purging continues, some degree of languor and sickness are felt, and the 

 force of the circulation is thereby diminished, and the general excitement 

 lessened. The importance of physic in every case of considerable external 

 inflammation, is sufficiently evident. If the horse is laid by for a few days 

 from injury of the foot, or sprain, or poll-evil, or wound, or almost any cause 

 of inflammation, a physic ball should be given. 



In cases of internal inflammation, much judgment is required to determine 

 when a purgative may be beneficial or injurious. In inflammation of the lungs 

 or bowels, it should never be given. There is so strong a sympathy between 

 the various contents of the cavity of the chest, that no one of them can be 

 inflamed to any great extent, without all the others being disposed to become 

 so ; and, therefore, a dose of physic in inflamed lungs, would perhaps be as 

 fatal as a dose of poison. The excitement produced on the bowels by the pur- 

 gative may run on to inflammation, which no medical skill can stop. 



