OF FARRIERY. 



i63 



Lion, sucn as swelling, throbbing, tension, may 

 be less manifest when the affection is deeply 

 situated ; yet, they certainly exist, as in 

 uole-evil, fistulous withers, &c. Frequently, 

 in Florses dying of inflammation of the lungs, 

 the air-cells of these organs arc found crowded 

 with a larsrer number of tur2:id blood-vessels 

 than in the healthy state. Coagulable lymph, 

 and even blood are extravasated in the sub- 

 stance of these viscera, which of course 

 become heavier, and feel more solid. 



The extravasation of coagulated lymph, 

 which is one of the chief causes of the swell- 

 ins:, is also one of the most characteristic 

 signs of phlegmonous inflammation. Com- 

 mon inflammation exists wherever the blood- 

 vessels appear to be most numerous and 

 enlarged than in a natural state, accompanied 

 with an effusion of coagulating lymph, 

 whether upon the surface of a membrane, or 

 a bone, or into the interstices of the cellular 

 substance, and attended with throbbing and 

 acute pain in the part affected. 



I shall now, without proceeding further 

 into the consideration of inflammation, endea- 

 vour to treat of its causes, First, 



REMOTE CAUSES. 



The remote causes of inflammation are 

 several in number, but very easy in compre- 

 hension, because only divisible into two 

 sreneral classes. The Hist includes all such 

 agents as operate by their stimulant or 

 chemical qualities ; as for instance, cantha- 

 rides, large doses of aloes, heat, &c. The 

 second class of causes are those which act 

 mechanically ; such as bruises, wounds, &c. 

 After saying thus much, it .seems quite unne- 

 cessary to give a detail of each particular 

 remote cause. 



One remote cause of inflammation, and not 

 the least singular, is cold ; but cold appears to 

 act in different ways : First, it may be ap- 

 plied in such a degree, and for such a length 

 of time, as to destroy the vitality of the pai t 

 directly, in which case sloughs are formed *. 

 Secondly, it may be applied in a less degree, 

 or for a shorter time, and afterwards a stimu- 

 lant, such as heat, may be applied, which will 

 excite inflammation. The production of in- 

 flammation by any agent, depends in a great 

 degree upon the suddenness of the operation 

 of the agent which excites it; for a quan- 

 tity of stimulus, which, if suddenly applied, 

 would produce inflammation, may be ap- 

 plied slowly with impunity. Hence, every 

 slight stimuli will produce inflammation and 

 sloughing, in parts which have been weakened 

 by cold. Thirdly, a part sympathizes very 

 much with the contiguous ones. If a part be 

 weakened, by having its action reduced, and 

 if then the debilitating cause be removed, the 

 action of the part will be increased from sym- 

 pathy with the neiijhbouring parts. But, as 

 the action ought to be very little, the power 

 being small, inflammation must arise from the 

 action being increased beyond the power. 

 We ought, therefore, in this case, to diminish 

 the action of the neighbouring parts, in order 

 to prevent their extending to a part which 

 is not able to bear, without becoming dis 

 eased. 



'^ In India this is a frequent occurrence, both with the 

 Horse and native Indian too. In the Horse it is called by 

 the native hnrsnlee, and is exceedingly troubk'some to 

 be healed. Likewise in the native, in the cold season, it 

 is not uncnninion for pieces to come out of their thighs 

 (which are principally bare,) as large as half-a-crown. In 

 the Horse, from the troublesome teasing of the flies, it 

 becomes exceedingly annoying to the surgeon. 



