88 TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 



we may acquire general principles — obtain an introduction 

 to the art ; but the practice can be learnt nowhere but in 

 the stable. On the same principle it is, that a man unversed 

 in theory — an unscientific, unlettered individual — may make 

 a good common routine sort of practitioner, purely by dint 

 of imitation : it is the man of science and of practice com- 

 bined, however, that can alone direct the cure when danger 

 threatens and life is in the balance. 



Before undertaking to treat inflammation, we should ob- 

 tain the clearest insight possible into its seat, its kind, 

 its causes, its present and its probable effects. The part in 

 itself may be of a nature unfavorable to the progress of in- 

 flammation ; or it may be of such comparative insignificance, 

 as to have its function arrested without great inconvenience ; 

 or, on the other hand, it may be one of a highly inflamma- 

 tory nature; or else, one whose function is of such value 

 that the existence cannot support its interruption, much less 

 can the life endure its suppression. A horse will have oph- 

 thalmia, mange, grease, even glanders and farcy, in certain 

 forms, and yet maintain its general health outwardly unim- 

 paired : from the moment, however, it becomes attacked 

 with inflammation of the brain, bowels, lungs, &c., it must 

 be considered, in a condition tending to destruction. In the 

 latter case our treatment should, of course, be of a more 

 determinate kind than in the former. 



The degree and kind of inflammation must, in the treat- 

 ment, be taken into account. The more acute the one, the 

 more bold should be the other : though, where inflammation 

 is of a specific kind, experience teaches us, that we are far 

 less hopeful of a beneficial result. In specific ophthalmia, 

 in farcy, and in glanders, we bleed and purge with little 

 benefit : to be of real service to our patient, we must have 

 recourse to constitutional remedies. 



Pn regard to the causes of disease, not only is our treat- 

 ment influenced by them, but their removal, if possible, is 

 absolutely necessary : consequently, our earliest inquiry should 

 be one tending to their discovery. In numerous cases hardly 

 anything else is required. A horse suft'cring from common 



