180 CHAPTER 18. 



part such as the skin, the internal inflammation would be reduced and j 

 subdued. The rising of a blister was wont to be considered a favorable 

 symptom, being supposed to indicate that the external had vanquished 

 the internal inflammation, and succeeded in drawing the blood from 

 the internal organ to the surface. If on the other hand the blister did 

 not rise, it was supposed that the internal inflammation must be very 

 violent. 



It is difficult to conceive that any sensible portion of the blood con- ] 

 gested in a large vascular organ, such for instance as the lungs, can really 

 be withdrawn by any such means to the skin. 



Strong blisters were also used, not so much with a view to counter- 

 irritation, as for the purpose of rousing the diseased parts to renewed 

 activity by sympathy with the effect produced by the irritant in the 

 neighbouring external part. The more violent the inflammation, the 

 stronger and more extensive, it was argued, ought to be the blister. It 

 is a rule in nature, that if any part can be excited to action, the neigh- 

 bouring parts sympathise with it and are thereby roused to energy. On 

 this principle it is supposed that the blood which has collected and is 

 stagnating in the inflamed organ, may again be set in more active motion 

 by means of a blister applied to the skin. 



From this view the Author only differs as to the means taken to pro- 

 duce or to attempt to produce the desired effect. In his view, whilst a 

 mild irritant repeated somewhat frequently, as recommended above, may 

 be beneficial, a violent blister is more likely to cause paralysis of the 

 functions of the part, than to restore tone and vigor. 



Again, any such violent treatment renders the patient uneasy and 

 prevents his resting; and further, the absorption of some part of the 

 irritant into the system, which is very apt to take place, causes great 

 prostration of the vital energies. From such prostration and uneasiness 

 the animal will probably refuse all food. 



We do not say, that an animal so treated will necessarily die, but we 

 do say, that he is placed in a far less favorable position for recovery, 

 than when his strength is husbanded by the avoidance of such violent 

 measures. 



370. Specific inflammations. 



Specific inflammations, namely those attacks which result from the 

 presence of blood or animal poisons, such as glanders, farcy, ophthalmia, 

 &c., will be treated of under the heads of the diseases to which they 

 refer. 



371. Curative inflammation. 



Hitherto we have spoken of the state known as inflammation as a 

 disease to be combated, rather than as regards its other form, namely 

 as a curative agent. 



Inflammation, or in other words an abnormal supply of blood, pro- 

 duced by irritation in the neighbourhood of a part, is necessary for the 



