TV Piles FEVER. BLKEDING AND PURGING— RESTORATIVEa ffi 



▼Bcas, or organ, that constitutes a vital part of his system, receive such a 

 check or daniper as 1 have described, obstruction of the finer blood-vessels en- 

 sues — as, of the lungs, by their drinking cold water, or mere affusion of ilon 

 the chest, and inflammation is the name : if the whole body of an animal cr 

 its entire surface be so affected, the evil consequences are similar, and fever is 

 the name by which we designate it. Horses out of condition, or already in a 

 low state, though feverish, with quickened pulse, do not require further re- 

 duction ; since this is evidently "low fever," which I have treated of under a 

 separate head; as I have also "Typhus fever," or the affection of the whole 

 system which arises from a vitiated or corrujrt, state of the blood. But, in all 

 cases, the best guides to the practitioner for his prescriptions, and indeed all 

 his operations, are the causes, the symptoms, general health and peculiarity 

 of cor>stitution of the animal ; when it so happens that such particulars can be 

 extracted from those about him ; as will be the case in all studs of a superior 

 cast. If the feverish affection arises from inactive kidneys, the diuretics re- 

 commended lower down will be all the treatment that is requisite in such a 

 case ; if a dull heavy pulse and the state of his dungings show that the bowels 

 only are at fault, purgatives alone will restore health. So of any other vis- 

 ceral obstruction, when these give pain fever ensues, and is best removed by 

 the exhibition of mercury ; if the internal irritation continues, rowelling is the 

 remedy most appropriate to such cases, and the state of the pulse will tell the 

 doctor when and why he should bleed. This will bring us to an early con- 

 sideration of "the pulse," its indications and general rules. In all cases of 

 inflammation, whether of the whole system, or fever, or of particular organs, 

 let bleeding be resorted to immediately, in quantity proportioned to the amount 

 of heat, which is ascertained by the temper of the pulse. "Open the prima 

 vice" also, is a good maxim of a late respected lecturer on those subjects, 

 meaning thereby — purge the bowels or chief canal, and keep them open. Co- 

 pious clysters of warm water-gruel assist the latter materially, particularly if 

 a solution of salts be added, according to the nature of the case; but rather 

 than delay the clyster through want of the ingredient being at hand, use 

 simple warm water only. Very often, in slight attacks, the animal requires 

 no other treatment, if resorted to in time ; but delay is dangerous, for with 

 every hour the symptoms increase in a three-fold ratio, and the animal be- 

 comes weaker and weaker every moment, and therefore less able to bear up 

 against the attack. In all cases, be quick, for ruin is going on with rapid 

 strides, whenever the animal shows signs of great internal pain. Fresh air, 

 diluting liquids, and clysters, in all cases of inflammation whatsoever, are 

 found of as much service in the restoration of health, as the best active medi- 

 cines that can be administered; the first mentioned most positively so, unless 

 the animal perspire greatly at the time, or it suffers under a fit of shivering. 

 Danger is to be apprehended in the latter case, and the fresh air need not 

 then be admitted ; but if shivering is succeeded by sweating, or even a small 

 degree of moist heat, it may be considered as the crisis of the disorder, when 

 something has taken place that is favourable to the cure — of which more par- 

 ticulars in the proper place. Continued shivering, by the way, denotrs the 

 termination of all inflammatory diseases — in death; cordials then may do 

 good, but more frequently accelerate the catastrophe, whilst the diluting liquid 

 — water-gruel, will afford relief in some measure, but can do no harm. But 

 resh air, that issues not in streams, is of all other restoratives that upon 

 which 1 place the most rehance; even removal to a fresh stall, or up and 

 down the stable, effects great changes in the animal's spirits, that can not fail 

 to strike the eye of an attentive observer, and bespeak, more than words can 

 ionvey, the vital necessity of a cool atmosphere. 



The Pulse — Being thechiefest criterion forjudging of the state of the cir 



