186 CONTENTS OF THrJ , BEST. 



the f:ot in acute founder, by unloading the vessels of the inflamed part, and enahlaj 

 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 prin- 

 ciple in the animal frame which should never be lost sight of by the veterinary sur- 

 geon, 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 

 losffor 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 comparatively 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 essen- 

 tial 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 is 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 suffi- 

 ciently evident. It 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 physu 

 in inflamed lungs, would perhaps be as fatal as a dose of poison. The excitement 

 produced on the bowels by the purgative may run on to inflammation, which no 

 medical skill can stop. 



The means of abating external inflammation are various, and seemingly contra- 

 dictory. The heat of the part very naturally and properly led to the application of 

 cold embrocations and lotions. Heat has a strong tendency to equalize itself, or to 

 leave that substance which has a too great quantity of it, or little capacity to retain it, 

 for another which has less of it, or more capacity. Hence the advantage of cold appli- 

 cations, by which a great deal of the unnatural heat is speedily abstracted from the 

 inflamed part. The foot labouring under inflammation is put into cold water, or the 

 horse is made to stand in water or wet clay. Various cold applications are also used 

 to sprains. The part is wetted with diluted vinegar, or goulard, or salt and water. 

 When benefit is derived from these applications, it is to be attributed to their coldness 

 alone. Water, especially when cooled below the natural temperature, is as good an 

 application as any that can be used. Nitre dissolved in water, will lower the tem- 

 perature of the fluid many degrees; but the lotion must be applied immediately after 

 the salt has been dissolved. A bandage may be afterwards applied to strengthen the 

 iimb, but during the continuance of active inflammation, it would only confine *he 

 heat of the part, or prevent it from benefiting by the salutary influence of the cold 

 produced by the evaporation of the water. 



Sometimes, however, we resort to warm fomentations, and if benefit is derived from 

 Vhfiii use, it is to be traced to the warmth of the fluid, more than to any medicinal pro 



