INFLAMMATION. 161 



be removed from the bowels, the retention of which would 

 increase the general irritation and fever. The quantity of blood 

 will be materially lessened, for the serous or watery fluid which 

 is separated from it by a brisk purge, the action of which in the 

 horse continues probably more than twenty-four hours, is enorm- 

 ous. While the blood is thus determined to the bowels, less 

 even of that which remains will flow through the inflamed 

 part. "While the purging continues, some degree of languor and 

 sickness is felt ; and the force of the circulation is thereby dimin- 

 ished, and the general excitement lessened. The importance of 

 physic in every case of considerable external inflammation, is 

 sufficiently evident. If the horse is laid by for a few days from 

 injury of the loot, or sprain, or poll-evil, or wound, or almost any 

 cause of inflammation, a physic-ball should be given. 



In cases of internal inflammation, much judgment is required 

 to determine when a purgative may be beneficial or injurious. 

 In inflammation of the lungs or bowels, it should never be given. 



The means of abating external inflammation are various, and 

 seemingly contradictory. The heat of the part very naturally 

 and properly led to the application of cold embrocations and lo- 

 tions. Heat has a strong tendency to equalize itself, or to leave 

 that substance which has a too great quantity of it, or little ca- 

 pacity to retain it, for another which has less of it, or more 

 capacity. Hence the advantage of cold applications, by which a 

 great deal of the unnatural heat is speedily abstracted from the 

 inflamed part. The foot laboring under inflammation is put 

 into cold water, or the horse is made to stand in water or wet 

 clay. Various cold applications are also used to sprains. The 

 part is wetted with diluted vinegar, or goulard, or salt and water. 

 When benefit is derived from these applications, it is to be at- 

 tributed to their coldness alone. Water, especially when cooled 

 below the natural temperature, is as good an application as any 

 that can be used. Nitre dissolved in water, will lower the tem- 

 perature of the fluid many degrees ; but the lotion must be 

 applied immediately after the salt has been dissolved. A band- 

 age may be afterwards applied to strengthen the limb, but during 

 the continuance of active inflammation, it would only confine 

 the heat of the part, or prevent it from benefiting by the salu- 

 tary influence of the cold produced by the evaporation of the 

 water. 



Sometimes, however, we resort to warm fomentations, and if 

 benefit is derived from their use, it is to be traced to the warmth 

 of the fluid, more than to any medicinal property in it Warm 

 water will do as much good to the horse, who has so thick a 

 skin, as any decoction of chamomile, or marsh-mallow, or poppy 

 heads, or any nostrum that the farrier may reconunend. Fo- 



