SrVIPLE FEVER : SY^IPTOMS. 69 



only, a few strokes being very quick, and then again a few very slow, this in- 

 dicates low fever, in which bleeding would do harm. Cluickness, however, 

 is the chief indication of the whole class of inflammatory frvei , and this 

 being my principle object at present, I shall postpone further consideration of 

 the pulse until 1 come to treat of " blood-letting." 



FEVER. 



There are two kinds of well-marked fever, simply so called — first, that 

 which arises from the pain an animal may be put to by the derangen)cnt of 

 some main organ of life, by misusage, hard riding, wounds, &c. ; and second- 

 ly, that which consists in a general inflammation of the blood arising from a 

 cold, a chill, or sudden check, as before described. The ancient vulgar name 

 given to this alarming disease conveys to the common observer a better idea 

 of its force and danger, than those which are settled by consent of the faculty 

 of horse medicine; and the phrase "inflammation of the blood" may betaken 

 as more plainly indicative of the cause of fever than aught the moderns have 

 substituted in its place. Had our plain-speaking ancestors termed it "in- 

 flammation of the blood-vessels," they would have been still more accurate, 

 probably : but no mistake is more common throughout life, than to speak of 

 the thing contained for the thing containing it, and vice versa. When the 

 symptoms come on quick or acutely, the most prompt measures must be taken : 

 a mild attack may be easily reduced if taken in time, but, if neglected, it as- 

 sumes the most alarming symptoms. Evacuations and diluting drinks are 

 the proper means of reducing the patient; but before purgatives are admin- 

 istered, see what is said a few pages onward respecting " Costiveness ;" for 

 it not unfrequently happens, that this is all that ails the animal, except his 

 being worked too hard while costiveness is upon him. 



In either case of accelerated pulse from those causes, bleeding should pre- 

 sently be had recourse to, and let the quantity taken be regulated by the force 

 and quickness of the circulation of the blood : for this is what constitutes the 

 fever. If the pulsation advance to above 60, two quarts should be drawn ; if 

 above 70 in a minute, three quarts of blood would not be too much to take 

 away at once. If the number of beats be much more, ascending rapidly, with 

 the rigid feel of the artery above described, four quarts at least must l>e drawn, 

 and that from a large orifice. Should this rigidity, or hardness of the artery 

 continue, notwithstanding the bleeding, a quantity that shall cause faintness 

 or tottering might be taken, or rather a repetition take place of the same o\>e- 

 ration in lesser quantities, until that hardness of the artery is no longer felt. 

 Some skill, derived from practice, is required in watching for this last men- 

 tioned symptom ; but whatever is to be done, let there be no delay in the first 

 operation : twelve hours should intervene between the two bleedings. 



Immediately hereupon, let a mild purgative be administered, adapting this, 

 as well as the amount of bleeding, to the size of the horse, if he belong to 

 either extreme of exceeding large or very small. For one of the moderate 

 coach-horse kind give the following 



Purgative Ball. 



Aloes, 7 drachms. 



Castile soap, 4 drachms. 



Oil of caraways, 6 drops. 



With mucilage sufficient to form the ball for one aose. 



fn all cases of fever arising from accidents, hard runs, &c. which may beoon- 

 ■idercd as temporary excitements only, the above treatment in its mildest fonn 



