In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 5 7 



gentlemen and practitioners are very ready to assert. 

 We will presume that we have decided in our own minds 

 that our patient is one that comes under the denomination 

 of complicated influenza — that is, influenza located in 

 some vital organ and assumed a malignant type. What is 

 the best treatment to be adopted— first, is vivisection or 

 vesication indicated? The impression upon my own mind is 

 that they are not. The conclusion I have formed during a 

 pretty extensive experience, in large studs, and among 

 heavy cart and dray horses, is that nature will not 

 tolerate coercion, and that it can repair damages much 

 better than we can do. It does it in less time and 

 much more effectually by vital force, which has a greater 

 curative power than any other remedy possesses. What 

 Nature does is done spontaneously, if we only give her 

 lair play. I am quite satisfied that bleeding is 

 dangerous, and should not be attempted under any 

 circumstances. My deceased father told me o± a great 

 outbreak of influenza when he was in the army, when 

 bleeding was largely resorted to, with a result of the 

 loss of ninety-five per cent, of the patients. This 

 treatment should never be resorted to while we possess 

 such drugs as aconite. Counter-irritation is also to be 

 deprecated if used severely to the throat and sides ; 

 yet much benefit is derived from a gentle stimulating 

 with mustard, or, as Mr. Mavor advocates, mustard and 

 linseed meal. By condemning blisters — I mean fly 

 blisters — I must give a reason for doing so. In the 

 first place, we create an additional inflammation, 

 doubling the constitutional disturbance, driving the 

 blood with increased fury through the system, especially 



