MELANOSIS. 471 



Messrs. Trousseau and Leblanc found, in a horse's kidney, 

 a fibrous cyst of the bulk of a fist, which contained eight 

 ounces of black fluid, formed of the different elements of 

 the blood, and particularly of the colouring matter. In 

 fact, there is scarcely a tissue in the body in which melanosis 

 has not been found in some form. 



Treatment, — Our business here is, to abate inflamma- 

 tory action as well in the system as in the kidneys them- 

 selves ; and, at the same time, to do all in our power to 

 assuage the irritation in the glands, and so allay the pain 

 consequent on it. Nothing will operate more quickly and 

 effectually in the fulfilment of these objects than blood- 

 letting. Draw without delay through a large orifice as 

 much blood from the jugular as the pulse will bear : from 

 four to six quarts may commonly be abstracted with advan- 

 tage. This should be succeeded by the administration of an 

 ounce of aloes, alone or in combination only with treacle. 

 Should the animal not have been raked at the time the 

 hand was introduced to ascertain the condition of 

 the bladder, it will be proper to perform that operation 

 now, and to follow it up by the injection of a clyster of 

 two or three gallons of tepid water, rendered lubrica- 

 tive by the addition of starch. The patient ought to be 

 wrapped up in the warmest clothing, and have his legs 

 bandaged with flannel, it being of great importance to 

 maintain a hot skin — nay, if we have it in our power, to 

 produce a moist one. All this done, and our patient pro- 

 vided with a loose ventilated box, an ample bed, and a pail- 

 ful of water (rather gruel if he will drink it) he may for a 

 time be left to himself. A few hours hence he may require 

 a second venesection ; not, perhaps, to so large an amount as 

 the first, but still large enough to make evident impression. 

 Girard talks of bleeding nine times, Hurtrel d^Arboval of 

 repeating the same ten or twelve times, in the course of the 

 first twenty-four hours. Evacuations of blood at such short 

 intervals cannot but be small, and, in my opinion, insignifi- 

 cant and unimpressive : myself, I prefer, especially at first, 

 the practice of giving an effectual blow to the disease at once: 



