72 INFLUENZA. 



ferred, or transposed, so that both common sensation and 

 nutritive function are modified and altered ; or that by their 

 simple excitant action on the heart, bloodvessels, and 

 absorbents they produce an extra amount of vital energy, 

 and operate by a more active distribution of vital fluid and 

 absorption of the more liquid portions of the material effused, 

 restoring impaired structures to somewhat of their normal 

 functions — in whatever way their action is brought about, they 

 seem less liable to dangerous sequences, even when emijloyed 

 indiscriminately, than the other so-called cardinal remedies, 

 bleeding and purging. 



When engaged closely with the details of medicine, Ave are 

 apt to imagine that no recovery from disease can be secure 

 apart from the employment of medicines ; and in this way 

 physic often reaps a harvest of credit to which it has no just 

 claim. Against this tendency all require to be warned, while 

 probably no disease which we are called upon to treat yields 

 better results to a strictly enforced and correct hygienic 

 arrangement than influenza in all its forms. For although 

 we place much reliance on the judicious employment of 

 medicinal agents, it is nevertheless tolerably certain that no 

 amount of medicaments will ever supersede or compensate for 

 the want of good careful nursing. 



At the very outset of the fever, have the horse laid aside 

 from work, if so engaged at the time ; many an animal has 

 been doomed to a protracted recovery, or has ultimately suc- 

 cumbed to the disease, that might have survived and been 

 restored to health had rest been enforced whenever the disease 

 appeared. Next to cessation from work, have the animal 

 placed, if possible, in a roomy, clean, well- ventilated, light, and 

 dry loose box ; or if compelled to remain in a stall, sec that a 

 sufiiciency of pure air gains admittance, and scrupulous atten- 

 tion is paid to cleanliness. The advantages of a good loose 

 box are such that, with a sufticicnt supply of fresh air, we can 

 always regulate the bodily warmth by means of clothing, which 

 ought to consist of a woollen rug and bandages for the legs, 

 with hood or head-cap. It is needful to maintain the surface- 

 temperature, thereby preserving the equilibrium of the general 

 circulation and facilitating transpiration and secretion by the 

 skin. 



