79 A COLD— WHAT! 



fects of blistering in any case, by comparing and noting the earliest symptom* 

 of any two cases, in one of which the crisis has been subsequently attended 

 with such a superficial tumour, and in the other not so. He will then v^- 

 ploy blistering with more reliance on its efficacy than 1 have found nec'^ 

 sary after the hand-rubbing. 



When this remedy is adopted for inflammation of the lungs, employ blister- 

 ing ointment composed of cantharides and sweet oil, or hog's lard, or all 

 three — or the following 



Blistering Ointment. 



Cantharides, powdered, 5 drachms. 



Hog's lard, 4 ounces. 



Oil of turpentine, 1 ounce. 



Mix, for one extensive application over each side of the chest ; which is a 

 neater and more expeditious method of attaining the desired end than rowel- 

 ling. When the latter method is adopted, let the tow used for the rowel be 

 dipped in a mixture of sweet oil and oil of turpentine ; and the skin of the 

 breast or belly, — if more than one such seton is employed, — be separated only 

 just sufficient to admit the rowel, in order to increase the irritation , but if the 

 surrounding parts swell to an inordinate size, change the tow for some which 

 has been sodden in digestive ointment. 



Pleurisy, or inflammation of the pleura, a membrane covering the two 

 lobes of the lungs (see chap. ii. p. 42) — has been described by Lawrence as a 

 separate disease ; but, as the treatment is the same as the preceding, I can see 

 no propriety in making the distinction he does, especially as we can not know 

 the difference until after death discloses all imperfections. 



A COLD OR CATARRH. 



Causes. — If I sought much nicety of arrangement, the disorder termed " a 

 cold," would have preceded the similar but more malignant attack I have de- 

 scribed under "Inflammation of the Lungs." Both are occasioned by cold 

 applied to the animal's organs of respiration at a time that he is most suscepti- 

 ble of its influence, differing only in the part which may suffer. Thus, when 

 the canal through which the air passes receives the check (before described), 

 which is the immediate cause of inflammation, every one agrees in its being 

 merely " a cold," though in most cases no attack is more replete with danger 

 if neglected. 



But the origin and progress of such a check upon the functions of the 

 membrane that lines this canal, having been already fully described in the se- 

 cond chapter, pages 33, the studious reader must turn back to that part, 

 if he would trace causes to their effects, and does not presently recollect all 

 that is tnere said on this topic. 



One prolific source of the disorder termed a cold, is found in ihe shedding 

 of the coat in spring and in autumn, a process of nature always attended with 

 a certain degree of debility or general weakness. Hence it is that the animal 

 sweats profusely upon the least exertion ; and being in this state suflered to 

 stand (harnessed perhaps") in the open air to cool, the sweating is too suddenly 

 stopped, and he gets a cold at least. That the lungs should suffer the soonest 

 of any other organ is not at all astonishing : the very great exertions made by 

 the lungs in the business of progression, is much increased by adhesions and 

 other obstructions to the action of its several parts ; and this, added to theii 

 exposure, externally, and the coastant inhalation of fresh, cold damp air • 



