234 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



operation of phlebotomy. Phlebitis is less frequently met 

 with now than it was formerly, when bleeding was so 

 indiscriminately practised. 



Causes. — Inflammation of a vein may be caused in various 

 ways, but probably is caused oftener by blood-letting than 

 anything else, and is more likely to follow the operation 

 where several blows of the fleam have been made, or when 

 the operation has been performed in a bungling manner, lace- 

 rating, or bruising the coats of the vein, improperly closing 

 the lips of the wound, etc. Phlebitis may also occur in conse- 

 quence of some peculiar state of the system existing at the 

 time phlebotomy is performed ; as, for instance, there being 

 an irritable condition of the skin as in laminitis, eczema, etc. 

 These are often followed by phlebitis where venesection has 

 been practised. Rubbing of the wound by the animal may 

 also be mentioned as a cause. Hence it is seen that it may 

 follow phlebotomy, even when that operation has been 

 performed in a proper manner, and in such a case the person 

 operating should not be blamed for any untoward results. 

 It is common to meet with a case where twenty-four hours 

 after bleeding a swelling is noticed, which on manipulation 

 is found to be movable. This is a condition often mistaken 

 for phlebitis, and known as thrombus. 



Pathology. — In phlebitis after bleeding, inflammation 

 becomes established in connection with the coats of the 

 vein, causing an exudate to be thrown out. A coagulum is 

 formed by the obstruction, the flow of blood through the 

 vein becomes less and less, until it finally ceases, and the 

 vein becomes impervious. The coagulum extends to- 

 ward the head when it is the jugular vein that is affected ; 

 and in the brachial vein, or other veins of the extremities, 

 the coagulum extends toward the heart. Why the 

 coagulum should extend in one vein toward the heart and 

 in another vein away from the heart is an interesting 



