128 TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATION. 



to be secreted. The same practice may be, and, indeed, 

 occasionally is, pursued in horses : but I give the preference 

 to a repetition of blisters — allowing one to subside, and then 

 applying a fresh one. To any part of the outer skin that is 

 sound we may apply a blister ; but any diseased or denuded 

 part we in general abstain from blistering, for the obvious 

 reason of its probably increasing the malady already existing. 

 Never apply a blister to the points of flexion of joints, or 

 to that portion of a limb that is bent during motion ; this 

 caution, the reader will perceive, alludes to the fore part of 

 the hock, the hind part of the pastern, the heels, the back 

 of the knee, &c.; for the consequence generally is ulceration, 

 resulting from motion interfering with the healing process. 

 Cracks on the heels of a deep and virulent character fre- 

 quently originate from this cause ; so also scurfy eruptions, 

 called ^' mallenders" and " sallenders,^^ are often provoked 

 by the like imprudent practice. To avoid the oil running 

 down the leg upon the heels, by way of precaution, cover 

 the heels with some firm ointment, which may encase 

 and protect the parts : this is very well as a preventative, 

 and should never be neglected ; but it is better to have the 

 hair clipped short, and to use only so much oil as may 

 be absorbed. If this rule be followed, and the friction be 

 not spared, very little harm will come to any part below the 

 blistered surface. 



Use of Blisters. — The benefit derived from a blister 

 depends upon its seasonable application. In cases of acute 

 disease were we to apply blisters we should be adding to 

 the irritation of the system : we, therefore, never order a 

 blister until the inflammatory action has received a check 

 from the employment of remedies. We, by bleeding, and 

 purging, and sedatives, make an impression on the 

 pulse, as well as on the symptoms; and having done 

 this, we may have recourse to blisters. Indeed, in some 

 cases, it would be useless to employ them before this is done; 

 for every one in practice knows that blisters will not act 

 during the height of the inflammatory paroxysm : hence we 

 regard it as a good omen when they rise well. 



