TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 73 



as to necessitate the use of slings from the outset ; if such be 

 the case, the weight of the animal being thrown upon the 

 abdominal viscera, renders the use of purgatives dangerous. 

 In inflammatory fever arising from inflammations of mucous 

 membranes, or when at any time the mucous membranes 

 exhibit signs of irritation, even after an external injury, the 

 administration of purgatives, more especially in the horse, is 

 contra-indicated. In thoracic affections, even when the serous 

 membranes are affected, they should be given with caution, 

 but they are of great service in encephalitis, hepatic con- 

 gestions, &c. 



Opium. — To subdue pain and soothe the nervous system, 

 there is no remedy to equal opium. Its use is of vital im- 

 portance in some inflammations, especially in inflammation of 

 the intestines. 



Aconite is another valuable remedy. Its beneficial effects 

 are more apparent in cases of inflammation, accompanied by 

 excitement rather than pain ; it improves the tone, whilst 

 it diminishes the rapidity, of the heart's action. Belladonna 

 is a favourite remedy with some practitioners, but it is not so 

 useful as either opium or aconite ; it, however, seems to exer- 

 cise a beneficial efiect upon inflammations of the larynx. 



Antimony in all its forms has no effect upon the heart's 

 action in the horse or ox, but is successfully employed in the 

 treatment of canine inflammations. 



Mercury is but seldom employed in the treatment of in- 

 flammation; its use in both the horse and the ox has been 

 followed by alarming, and sometimes fatal, symptoms. For 

 many years cases have been treated by me without the use of 

 mercury, and I am of opinion that it may be excluded from the 

 list of antiphlogistic remedies. 



Alkaline remedies in some manner retard the formation of 

 fibrogenous elements in the tissues ; they also increase the 

 secretion of urine, and particularly the expulsion by this 

 channel of the products derived from destruction of the albu- 

 minous compounds of the body. Alkalies, having combined 

 with acids in the system, generally pass out of the body as 

 salts, and tend to leave behind them an excess of alkali in the 

 blood. For this reason, the neutral salts of the alkalies suit 

 the lower animals, more especially the horse and ox (in which 



