220 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



plaint, than from numerous repetitions of it 

 afterwards. From a moderate sized Horse, 

 five, six, or seven quarts, or even more, may 

 be drawn; and should the symptoms indicate 

 a necessity for it, particularly if the pulse rose 

 on the first bleeding, in five or six hours take 

 three or four quarts more ; and as long as the 

 breathinsT continues laborious, the extremities 

 permanently cold, and the pulse oppressed, 

 but rising on the flowing of the blood ; so long 

 the bleeding should be repeated to the amount 

 of two or three quarts at a time, at intervals 

 of six or eight hours. This is recommended 

 under a supposition that the treatment com- 

 mences soon after the attack ; but if otherwise, 

 and violent symptoms have existed thirty-six 

 or forty-eight hours, the bleeding must be re- 

 peated with more caution, and the pulse most 

 attentively watched ; or the opposite extreme 

 may be fallen into, and such debility succeed, 

 as may produce the very event we wish to 

 avoid, by hastening gangrene or effusion. It 

 is of considerable importance to draw the 

 blood quickly, by means of a large orifice, as 

 directed under General Injlammalion, and to 

 suffer the blood drawn, to cool gradually 

 without disturbance, by which the buffy sur- 

 face will have an opportunity of shewing itself, 

 and afford an additional indication of the pro- 

 priety of persisting to bleed, or prove a check 

 to its continuance. Immediately after the 

 first bleeding:, some active stimulants should 

 be applied to the surface of the chest. Blis- 

 ters have the effect of taking off the hair, 

 which disfigures the Horse for a long time 

 afterwards ; and therefore their use is some- 

 times objected to. It is to be remembered, 

 however, that they act by stimulating the 

 parts not immediately affected, and thus prove 

 a counter irritant ; and that there is no specific 



virtue in one matter more than another be- 

 yond its degree of stimulating action to the 

 part it is applied to. The degree of irritation 

 necessary, must be proportioned to the degree 

 of inflammation it is intended to counteract, 

 by becoming a counter irritation too. (^See 

 Blisters?) If that be very considerable, the 

 medicinal stimulant must be so likewise ; and 

 we know of none whose energy is great in 

 this respect, that will not raise the cuticle, 

 and separate the hair. Consequently, as those 

 matters called blisters, act powerfully as 

 stimulants, and particularly as they continue 

 such action for some time, they should never 

 be dispensed with. Whenever, therefore, the 

 symptoms are at all urgent, proceed at once to 

 blister the chest, and between the fore legs, 

 and also from the sides behind the elbows ; as 

 it should be remembered, that actively blis- 

 tering is the quickest mode of subduing the 

 inflammation. The state of the bowels should 

 be next attended to, and a gentle relaxed 

 state encouraged; but not purging. To ob- 

 tain this end, back-rake, and throw up a 

 laxative clyster. (See list of medicines') ; but 

 active purging must by all means be avoided. 

 A little further on we will prescribe what in- 

 ternal medicines should be given. Mr. Cole- 

 man formerly recommended, after blistering 

 or rowelling, that the Horse might be turned 

 out into the open air, however cold, without 

 other medical treatment than nauseating 

 doses of aloes. Latterly he has recommended, 

 and with very great propriety, a well venti- 

 lated box, with slight clothing on the Horse, 

 with which I perfectly agree, taking care that 

 the legs be well rubbed and bandaged, either 

 with woollen bandages, or in default of which, 

 with hay, or straw ; and should this not have 

 the desired effect of producing warmth in the 



