74 SYMPTOMS OF INFLAMMATION. 



acidity is not such a normal condition of system as in man and 

 the dog). We therefore find that the nitrate of potash is a 

 most valuable antiphlogistic. 



Stimulants. — When, after the subsidence of inflammatory 

 excitement, the process of repair does not progress satisfactorily, 

 when in fact it hangs fire, either from excessive severity of the 

 inflammation, depressive treatment, or other influence, it may 

 be necessary to have recourse to stimulants applied to the part 

 itself if superficially situated, or administered internally, when 

 the seat of the inflammation is beyond our reach. But stimu- 

 lants, particularly alcoholic stimulants, whether wine, spirits, or 

 beer, must be very carefully administered — particularly in horse 

 practice — and only persisted in when their beneflcial effects are 

 perceptible. If they improve the appetite or pulse they may be 

 continued, but not otherwise. 



Local stimulants to superficial parts, after the subsidence of 

 active symptoms, will often promote their recovery; thus an 

 ulcer or superficial mucous membrane may be touched with 

 nitrate of silver or other stimulant, or stimulated with cold 

 water. Where joints or synovial membranes are to be 

 treated, the stimulating effects of blisters will extend to deeper 

 structures. 



One other remedy in the treatment of inflammation is 

 counter-irritation, and this is supposed to act by producing 

 artificial metastasis, or a removal of the diseased action to less 

 important parts of the body than that originally affected. I 

 need not here enter into a discussion of the value of blisters 

 and other counter-irritants. They are useful when properly 

 applied, and very injurious, especially in the horse, when in- 

 discriminately used. Their beneficial effects are most apparent 

 in inflammations of the joints, superficial fibrous structures, 

 and in inflammation, acute and chronic, of the mucous mem- 

 branes. Their injurious effects are seen in acute inflammations 

 of the serous sacs, of the pulmonary parenchyma, and in exten- 

 sive diseases arising from depressing zymotic influences. 



" The more intense forms of counter-irritant treatment are so 

 painful that it is well worth while to be critical as to their 

 value ; and it deserves more general notice than it has yet 

 received, that some of the most accurate clinical observers of the 

 day are profoundly sceptical on this subject. In various cases 



