J 70 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



a luke-warm state, are the most proper, such 

 as oatmeal gruel, mashes of bran with chilled 

 water ; these keep off heat, and tend to soothe 

 the increased action of the whole arterial sys- 

 tem. The stable in which the Horse is kept, 

 should not be kept warmer than his comfort 

 requires ; for, of all things, heat keeps up any 

 increased action in the body in the most 

 powerful manner. For the same reason, the 

 animal should not be covered with a superflu- 

 ous quantity of clothes. 



The whole body, but more especially the 

 inflamed part, should be preserved as free as 

 possible from every kind of motion. Every 

 one knows that all motion, exercise, and mus- 

 cular exertion, accelerate the circulation ; and 

 hence, they must have a pernicious effect on 

 inllammation, by determining a larger quan- 

 tity of blood to the part affected. 



I shall now speak of topical applications, 

 and first of cold ones. With the exception of 

 what has been stated concerning topical 

 bleeding, all the foregoing remarks relate to 

 the general treatment of inflammation : we 

 shall next consider the local. 



It has been already observed, that inflam- 

 mation is attended with an increase of heat in 

 the part affected, and it is an acknowledged 

 and well known fact, that the action of the 

 arteries, as well as any other operation in the 

 animal economy, is promoted and increased 

 by the influence of heat. For this reason, an 

 obvious indication arises, viz., to reduce the 

 temperature of the inflamed part by the 

 topical application of cold ; and, in particular, 

 by continually abstractmg the heat generated 

 ill the part, by keeping up a constant evapo- 

 lalion from its surface. 



FreparatJons of lead, and other sedative 

 and astringent substances, are such as are 



in the greatest repute for bnnging about the 

 resolution of inflammation. 



I am decidedly averse to entering into 

 minute discussions, concerning the modtis 

 operandi of such medicines as are recom- 

 mended. These disquisitions would only 

 extend our remarks to an unnecessary length, 

 and in consequence probably fail in conveying 

 satisfactory information to the reader. How- 

 ever, I am firmly of opinion, that in some cir- 

 cumstances it may not be improper to deviate 

 so far from the general rule, as to render as 

 obvious as possible, the propriety of what at 

 any time may be advanced ; for mere prac- 

 ticable assertions, unsupported by some foun- 

 dation in reason, can never prove either so 

 useful or agreeable, as they might otherwise 

 be rendered. 



We have remarked, that the cold applica- 

 tions used in the resolution of inflammatinn, 

 are commonly such as are of an astringent and 

 sedative quality ; but the whole class of 

 medicines, which are found to possess these 

 properties, can never be recommended as 

 topical remedies for phlegmonous inflamma- 

 tion. The sulphate of zinc, and sugar of lead, 

 combined with vinegar, are the only medicines 

 of the astringent and sedative class, which 

 seem to have acquired permanent celebrity 

 for their efficacy in resolving inflammation. 



Extensive experience, and long established 

 trials, have now fully conflrmed the virtue of 

 all these local remedies, in which the sugar of 

 lead is the active ingredient. The prepara- 

 tions of lead, certainly merit the app^Jlation of 

 sedatives. The propriety of the term, how- 

 ever, is more particularly evinced by the 

 immediate and obvious opL;ration of the lead, 

 when any of its preparations are outwardly 

 applied to the snrfa<te of an inflamed p;irL 



