90 TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 



PREPARATORY TREATMENT. 



Removal of the Exciting Cause. — The first thing to be 

 done in the treatment of inflammation is, to remove the 

 cause, supposing it to be still operating : indeed, in some 

 afifections, this is all that is required : the cause being re- 

 moved, the inflammation gradually subsides. Should a horse 

 pick up a nail in his foot, and wound the quick, the extrac- 

 tion of the foreign body, with attention to opening the ori- 

 fice and preventing the entrance of dirt, will be all that is 

 commonly necessary to eff'ect a cure. On the other hand, 

 however, should these simple measures be postponed, violent 

 inflammation may ensue, and the case call for the utmost 

 exertion of our art. 



Removal of all Irritation, — As soon as inflammation 

 is established, it becomes necessary not only that we remove 

 the cause, but that we place the part affected out of the in- 

 fluence of everything which may operate against the subsi- 

 dence of the inflammation. It would be well if we were 

 able to suspend the function of every organ during the 

 existence of inflammation ; over such only as are under the 

 influence of the will have we any control in our own persons : 

 though there exists an instinctive aversion in every creature 

 to refrain from that which gives it pain. A horse will not 

 stand upon an inflamed foot ; but will throw all the weight 

 upon the sound limb. 



When the eye is inflamed, the lids and the haw are drawn 

 over its surface to shield it from the light ; which, though 

 under ordinary circumstances a healthy stimulus, now that 

 the sensibility is augmented, becomes an annoyance : this 

 teaches us in cases of ophthalmia to exclude the light. 



Repose of the Inflamed Part. — All this shows us the 

 necessity of paying attention to that important principle in 

 the treatment of disease, viz., to put the diseased part into a 

 state of rest. Not only does the part itself demand this ; 

 the whole body — the constitution calls for it ; and there 

 arc but few local diseases of any magnitude in which the 



