In the Stable, Field, and on the Road,. 213 



can be but little doubt but they will speedily lessen the 

 heat, from the well-known principle that coloric has a 

 strong tendency to equalize itself or to quit any substance 

 that is surcharged with it, consequently by these ap- 

 pliances the increased temperature is reduced in the part 

 inflamed. Thus when using arnica lotion in cases of ex- 

 ternal inflammation the effect will be considerably 

 heightened by dissolving two ounces of nitre in a quart of 

 lotion, which should be composed of one ounce of arnica 

 b.p. to forty ounces of water. When nitre is used with 

 the lotion it should be used as soon as fairly dissolved, 

 the inflamed portion being completely exposed to the pro- 

 cess of evaporation. Nitre has the effect of reducing the 

 temperature of the lotion many degrees below its natural 

 condition, but it is questionable whether permanent bene- 

 fit is derived from cold applications in cases of inflamma- 

 tion. My own experience lead me to believe more in 

 warm fomentations. Although not so grateful as cold 

 ones to hot swellings, they will be found to produce better 

 results, as they open the pores of the skin, and if applied 

 as hot as the animal can endure, it will more readily take 

 off the tension that has been produced by inflammatory 

 swelling ; poultices will have much the same effect. 

 Blisters have often been applied with great success in 

 deep-seated inflammations, for by creating inflammation 

 on the surface on the principle of counter-irritation, it 

 will have the tendency to lessen it in other parts, as great 

 inflammation cannot exist in two places close together at 

 the same time. 



