274 LYMPHANGITIS. 



minims of Fleming's tincture of aconite have been added ; or, 

 taking advantage of the thirst usually present, sulphate of 

 soda or magnesia may be given liberally in the drinking-water. 

 Following the action of the purgative, it is good to administer 

 daily, or every alternate day, a mild diuretic, to which, in some 

 cases, may be added with advantage twenty to thirty grains 

 of calomel. When the disturbance is in any way connected 

 with a previous state of debility the calomel should be with- 

 held, and a similar quantity of sulphate of iron substituted. 



As respects local treatment, the best is fomentation with 

 simple warm water ; this relieves the tension of the vessels, 

 favours effusion, lessens pain, and so reduces the fever and 

 systemic disturbance. It is most readily applied through the 

 medium of woollen bandages, or loosely twisted hay or straw 

 bands wound from the foot upwards, and as high as it is 

 possible. When the pain is distressing, and in very sensitive 

 animals, relief is obtained by the addition of a little laudanum 

 to the warm water employed in the fomentations ; this is most 

 economically done by adding it to a limited quantity of water 

 at the termination of each act of fomentation. 



As soon as the animal is able to take a little exercise, the 

 fomentations may be discontinued, and moderate friction with 

 the hand and a little oil substituted ; while where there exists 

 disinclination to move, enforced exercise is generally beneficial, 

 and the application, when in the stable, of dry woollen 

 bandages. 



Throughout the course of the disease a careful regulation of 

 the dieting must be attended to. The indication at first is by 

 lessening the supply of nutritive material, and by presenting 

 such as may be deemed needful in the least stimulating or irri- 

 tating form, to give the organs connected with food-assimila- 

 tion as much rest as possible ; an increase of stimulating nutri- 

 ment to be given when the needs of the system demand it, or 

 the organs are capable of appropriating it, but not until then. 

 In cases Avhere the limb has suffered from more than one 

 attack, and where there is much thickening from organization 

 of diseased products, but following the subsidence of the acute 

 symptoms of the fever, the employment of iodine both inter- 

 nally and externally is often of benefit. Internally, it ought 

 to be given twice daily in a soluble form as the compound 



