304 DISEASES OF THE CELLULAR MEMBRANE. 



in the chest and belly : though^, should these parts be much 

 swollen, I prefer puncturing them. Should the legs be 

 cold^ apply flannel bandages ; also, clothe warmly. Turn 

 the animal into a loose box ; but have him led to exercise 

 thrice daily. When the physic has set, let the alterative 

 ball prescribed for water farcy be given, until all inflamma- 

 tion has departed; after which, the tonic ball before re- 

 commended may be exhibited twice a day : due attention 

 being paid to exercise. A repetition of the scarifications 

 will expedite the dispersion of the swellings, giving issue to 

 much fluid : choose the prominent and dependent parts for 

 puncture. In one case, by accident, when scarifying, I 

 opened the spur- vein, whence blood flowed in a free stream : 

 I at first thought it a trifling occurrence ; but* was sub- 

 sequently compelled, from the bleeding continuing for three 

 hours, to have recourse to compress. 



There is another form of anasarca : or there is a disease 

 of the belly, which originates in external injury, and is of 

 consequence on account of the dropsical tumefaction it oc- 

 casions. This circumstance has led me to introduce it 

 among dropsies. 



PUNCTURED BELLY. 



Every now and then a horse receives a stab in the belly : 

 a pair of scissors or a pitchfork are the common instruments 

 inflicting the injury, and the situation of the wound is gene- 

 rally the lower and middle of the covering to the abdomen. 

 Should we immediately see the case, we shall perceive a 

 small wound dropping a serous fluid — unless the injury be 

 so recent that blood is congealed about or issuing from it, — 

 and on probing the orifice, it is rarely found to penetrate 

 the abdomen. There is so little to be seen, that, were the 

 practitioner not apprehensive of evil consequences, he would 

 hardly take further notice of the injury. Instead of suff'er- 

 ing it to go unheeded, I would advise him to immediately 

 exhibit a strong dose of physic, and place the animal on a 

 bran diet. Should no untoward results follow, all the in- 



