54 SPECIAL VETERINARY THERAPY 



nomena, especially lameness and various demonstra- 

 tions of trophic nerve disturbance. 



In choosing agents for exhibition by the blood 

 stream, we should respect the delicacy of the tissue 

 with which the agent comes into such intimate con- 

 tact. We should remember our physiology and our 

 histology enough so that we do not ignore the fact 

 that of all animal tissue, blood will least bear contact 

 or handling in any form. We should not forget, espe- 

 cially, the microscopically delicate net-works of capil- 

 laries and terminal vessels through which it must 

 pass unhindered. We should remember how delicate 

 is the physiologic chemistry of the blood and how lit- 

 tle it takes to disturb the equilibrium of this vital 

 formula. All too frequently, the veterinarian forgets 

 his early teaching on this subject and many times 

 the ultimate harm done the patient heavily outweighs 

 the good. 



The veterinarian can gain much by keeping track 

 of the cases in which he uses intravenous injections. 

 In most cases after varied intervals, the patient de- 

 velops some form of lameness, some apparent func- 

 tional disturbance, or some puzzling atrophy, which is 

 hard to handle. Lameness such as follows this pro- 

 cedure is usually obscure, difficult of diagnosis and 

 resistant to treatment. 



If we, as veterinarians, would bear in mind that 

 physicians, who have every facility to make intra- 

 venous medication ideal, consider it a measure to be 

 used only in dire extremes, we would not go about 

 it so carelessly and promiscuously. 



