74' AIR- VENITLATION OP STABIJJS. 



usually proved fatal, wherever these addenda to stable management could be 

 employed in supposed perfection. Not so the poor man's or the dealer's 

 horses under inflammation of the lungs, or the more dreaded •' epidemic 

 distemper;" his stables being more or less pervious, and his horse clothing 

 without the nap, it was no uncommon thing to find these had recovered, 

 whilst the more pampered and more valuable animals fell victims to every spe- 

 cies of inflammatory diseases. These results were known to many, in various 

 circles, about the time of the establishment of the Veterinary College ; and 

 the mutual communications that thence resulted, proved the impolicy of the 

 old plan of adding heat to heat, and increasing the disposition to acquire disease, 

 of the lungs in particular. A revolution which had recently taken place in the 

 human practice regarding the treatment of inflammatory and febrile disorders, 

 also contributed to open the eyes of our veterinary practitioners in this respect, 

 and they adopted the direct contrary practice in its greatest extremity. Mr. 

 Colman advised turning the horse into a loose box, leaving open the apertures, 

 without clothing or paying any regard to the seasons. Nought, however, 

 could be more absurd than to sup[)ose that a disease which is produced by 

 cold should have the continuance of cold prescribed for its cure. 



My practice has been to aflford the animal as much fresh air to breathe as 

 could possibly be allowed consistently with keeping out a draught or current; 

 taking care also that none whatever should be directed towards his body, nor 

 any enter the stable from the windward in stormy or cold seasons. With these 

 precautions, in a loose box and well covered up about the chest, but not tight- 

 ly, he would ever be found turning round to that side where the most air was 

 .0 be obtained, as if by instinct, knowing whence the readiest natural relief 

 from his sufferings was to be found. In one case, of an aperture being made 

 into an adjoining shed, the patient was frequently discovered inhaling the little 

 air which was to be drawn thence, though the orifice was no other than a dis- 

 placed knot of the wood partition. 



In general, the disease bends before the remedies proscribed; the hand- 

 rubbing must be continued, particularly of the legs, which in the worst period 

 of the disease are uncommonly fine, but should it last him some time they 

 swell, and in either case prove they are the barometer of the disorder, as well 

 as the necessity of rubbing them. On the other hand, should the pulsation 

 increase after bleeding, and no favourable symptoms appear (as indeed they 

 can not be then expected), this necessary operation must be repeated to the same 

 amount as at first, or up to a state of tottering as recommended before, at page 

 63: this necessity will occur but seldom, and that always with patients in 

 previously high condition. Therefore, no danger can be apprehended from 

 this copious discharge; for, at the end of twelve hours or less, which is the 

 period at which 1 should again resort to the fleam, the blood would have re- 

 turned tcits former courses in every respect ; the continuance of fever up to the 

 same original height of the pulse, shows that the particular animal then under 

 treatment, possessed an uncommon quantity of blood, and therefore that an 

 unusual quantity should be taken away in order to alleviate the heat that is de- 

 stroying it, and will destroy it, if the heat be not subdued at this second 

 bleeding; for, should this fail, I expect little good from further attempts, 

 though it is desirable to try what I always consider as the forlorn hope. 



Should those remedies fail, suppuration takes place usually in six and thir- 

 ty hours, and the animal is lost. Occasionally, however, it happens with low- 

 prieed animals, that the inflammation fixes itself and terminates with de- 

 struction of one lobe only of the lungs, generally that on the right side, the 

 jther performing all the functions, but how perfectly, or for how long time, ) 

 ha(! no means of ascertaining. At this point of his inquiries, the studioua 

 fader had better consult over ajrain what 1 thought it necessary to say upon th* 



