310 DISEASES OF THE INTESTINES. 



punctures are made to the epigastrium or umbilicus, the more efficacious. 

 This is a bloodletting easy enough practised on the ox, on account of the 

 large size of the subcutaneous abdominal vein ; but in monodactyles this 

 vein is less developed, on which account it is found more convenient or 

 facile to open the thoracic vein at the place where it divides into two 

 branches, from which spring the ramifications spread over the surface of 

 the belly. It is always best, however, to open the abdominal vein ; and, 

 therefore, supposing on account of the fatness of the horse or other 

 circumstances one cannot get blood enough from it, scarifications may be 

 made, and upon them either cupping-glasses applied, or mustard poultices, 

 made with vinegar. This quickly produces a tumefaction, by scarifying 

 which lightly, and subsequently fomenting it, the coagulation of the blood 

 is prevented, and thereby a suflicient emission obtained. 



Medicine. — The mucilaginous drenches already prescribed will not be 

 required should the patient drink the white water prepared for him ; but 

 then he must not be allowed to drink much at a time, and particularly 

 when the abdominal heat is considerable. With this regimen we may 

 with advantage give a mixture of liquorice root and mallows in some 

 gummy solution. In the gastro-enteritis of 1825, benefit was found from 

 the administration of drenches composed of linseed oil (olive or almond 

 oil being too dear), honey or treacle, and vinegar, in equal parts. To 

 horses with constipated bowels, or who staled but little, we gave at first, 

 in their drink every morning, two ounces of cream of tartar, and added 

 for other cases nitre to the water : vapour baths and emollient fomenta- 

 tions prove also of great service. When horses are of great value and 

 have much care bestowed upon them, we have suspended under their 

 bellies, so as to be quite near without touching the skin, bags containing 

 bran and linseed meal poultices, and renewed them every two hours, 

 keeping the animal the while well clothed. Unfortunately, this remedy, 

 one of the best we possess, is not practicable upon a large scale : in the 

 case of our own two horses, we attributed success to "this and to blood- 

 letting. We have never found anything necessary for the removal of 

 constipation beyond emollient and oily clysters. 



Complications. — Whatever may be the number and intensity of the 

 sympathetic phlegmasiae accompanying the gastro-enteritic inflammation, 

 the basis of our curative treatment must be the same. We must do all 

 we can to forestall these satellitic diseases; and if, in spite of us, some do 

 manifest themselves, we must attack them in a manner and with means 

 specifically appropriate to them. 



Sucli is D^ArbovaVs exposition of gastro-enteritis, enriched 

 with all his gleanings on the subject from the best French 

 authorities ; and such is an account of a disease which 



