A DICTIONARY. 



247 



chemical agency ; and then the loss of the 

 hoof is strangely attributed to inflamma- 

 tion, or the vital power, which did all it 

 could to prevent such a termination. 



Hoof-Casting. — A partial or complete 

 separation of the horse's hoof from the sen- 

 sitive foot. 



HoosE. — A term used by cow doctors. 

 It signifies a cough, either chronic or acute, 

 with which cattle are affected, from expos- 

 ure to cold winds or rain. 



Ho RE HOUND. — A bitter vegetable, used 

 in horse practice as a tonic and expectorant. 



HovEN. — (See Blasted.) 



Hydatid. — A thin bladder, containing a 

 fluid resembling water, and nearly trans- 

 parent. It is found in different animals. 

 In sheep, it occasions a disease named gid, 

 or giddiness; the hydatid being found in 

 one of the ventricles of the brain, or in its 

 convolutions. On account of the pressm-e 

 it makes on the brain, it disturbs the func- 

 tions of that important organ, especially 

 when the sheep are hurried or driven. 



Hydrocele. — Dropsy of the testicle and 

 its appendages. 



Hydrophobia. — Canine madness. 



Hydrothorax, or Dropsy of the Chest. 

 — Mr. Percivall informs us, " that the ob- 

 jects to be pursued in the treatment of 

 hydrothorax are twofold : first, we are to 

 diminish any excess of action that may 

 show itself in the sanguineous system,* and 



* In plain English, abstract blood. This not only di- 

 minishes the sanguineous system, but every other function 

 or system. The regulars have tried blood-letting to their 

 hearts' content; their patients have been rowelled, blis- 

 tered, calomelized, turpentinized, and hellebored, yet they 

 have never been able to preserve life, "except two solitary 

 cases in Mr. Sewell's practice; " for Mr. Percival tells us, 

 in his lectures, that " he never saw a case terminate favor- 

 ably." Is not this a proof that our brethren are on the 

 wrong track ? We are told that the proximate causes 

 of dropsy are " debility and an obstructed perspiration ; " 

 and that it may result from " loss of blood, diarrhoea, dia- 

 betes, and other circumstances that rapidly exhaust the 

 system." Hence the processes of cure are just the means 

 calculated to produce the disease. The true indications 

 in the treatment are, to warm and relax the surface, and 

 promote perspiration; for whatever checks it stops the 

 egress of morbific matter from the system, and, of course, 

 determines it upon the internal surfaces. Diffusable stim- 

 ulants may be given, to keep up the action on the surface. 

 The general health must be improved. 



thereby lessen the effusion of fluid into the 

 chest ; and secondly, by increasing the ac- 

 tion of the absorbent system, effect the 

 removal of what is already accumulated." * 

 Most surgeons recommend early tapping in 

 dropsy. The operation may be performed 

 with the common trocar and canula. The 

 best place for the introduction of the instru- 

 ment is the space between the eighth and 

 ninth ribs, close to their cartilages ; not be- 

 tween the latter, lest the pericardium be 

 punctured. Here, making the skin tense 

 with the fingers of the left hand, the instru- 

 ment, with its point directed upwards and 

 inwards, may, with a little rotary move- 

 ment, gradually be thrust in, until the re- 

 sistance to its entry suddenly ceases ; when 

 the trocar should be withdrawn, and the 

 canula at the same time pushed onwards, 

 lest it slip out. If the flow of water sud- 

 denly ceases, a small whalebone probe 

 should be introduced through the pipe. 



Ichor. — A thin, acrimonious discharge 

 from ulcers, or diseased parts. 



Icterus. — Jaundice, or yellows. 



Idiosyncrasy. — A peculiar constitution, 

 or temperament. 



Ileum. — The last portion of the small 

 intestine. It terminates in the large intes- 

 tine, or blind gut, named caecum. 



Imposthume. — A collection of matter, or 

 pus, in any part. 



Incontinence of Urine. — A continual 

 dripping of the m-ine from a horse's sheath. 



Inflammation. — Inflammation and fever 

 are one and the same thing. When fever 

 is confined to a small part, it is called in- 

 flammation. (See Inflammation, part 

 first.) Dr. White, although an advocate of 

 the popular error, viz., blood-letting, makes 

 some very sensible remarks on the subject. 

 If men generally would carry out these 



* The action of the absorbent system never was, nor 

 never can be, excited when the lancet is cooperative. Ab- 

 sorption is a physiological result, and cannot be excited by 

 agents that act pathologically. The balance between ex- 

 halation and absorption is lost, in consequence of which, 

 more fluid is poured out than is taken up : hence, if we 

 excite the cxhalents to throw off the morbid fluids from 

 the surface, there will be less for the absorbents to take up, 

 and the chances of success will be greater. 



