TREATMENT. 161 



must always in these be directed to the guiding of the patient 

 safely through the natural development of the disease, inter- 

 fering as little as possible with its regular phases, and only 

 when complications occur, or when the animal activities seem 

 to need support. In this, as in most fevers, excessive febrile 

 action may be moderated by the exhibition of such salines as 

 sulphate or hyposulphite of soda, allowed ad lihitum in the 

 drinking-water, or four drachms of chlorate, with two of 

 nitrate of potass given twice daily in a similar manner. 



When the sores on the membranes of the mouth are trouble- 

 some, and mastication and deglutition are performed with diffi- 

 culty, we may harden the tender parts, and thus confer more 

 liberty in both chewing and swallowing, through the use, for 

 a few days, of an astringent gargle of sulphurous acid and 

 water, or a mild solution of sulphate of zinc, to which a little 

 glycerine has been added. 



The food allowed ought to be of a character permitting of 

 its easy mastication, and such as will tend to maintain the 

 bowels in a healthy state. The horse will also, in the majority 

 of cases, require a little exercise or the use of a good loose box. 



CHAPTER VI. 



ERYSIPELAS. 



Definition. — A specific, febrile disorder, attended ivith pecu- 

 liar local complications in connection xvitli the skin, and fre- 

 quently cdso the immediately underlying tissues. The local 

 infiar}imatory action occurring in the skin and other tissues 

 is diffuse and spreading, accompanied tuith an eruption, much 

 pain, and siuelling. 



Pathology, a. General Characters and Varieties. — This 

 pecuhar local inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous 

 tissue shows itself in somewhat varying forms and modes of 

 development, and in accordance with these modifications of 

 its exhibition has received somewhat different names ; these 

 names indicating some accepted idea of its origin, some distinc- 

 tive phenomena exhibited during its course, or the invasion by 

 the diseased process of a particular organ or class of tissues. 



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