CURB. 341 



maintained upon the part. Use what we may in preference to 

 fomentation — the common remedy for the purpose — any inflamma- 

 tion present in the tumour should be drawn out, or very sensibly 

 diminished, before we think of applying a blister in the potent 

 form in which it is for curb or sprain ordinarily administered. 



Corrosive suhlimate dissolved m spirits of wine, in the propor- 

 tion of 3j to §j, is a favourite remedy with some practitioners; 

 and for slight cases it may answer very well. The hair may be 

 wetted with the solution in the same manner (with a painter's 

 brush) as the acetum cantharidum is recommended to be used; and 

 the part, as soon as the hair has become matted or roughened, 

 fomented. Others there are whose practice it is to form a paste of 

 spirits of wine and pipe-clay, and spread it upon the curb, keeping 

 the plaster continually applied. This is no more than a convenient 

 mode of applying spirits of wine itself, the pipe-clay being simply 

 the vehicle. The same paste has been found serviceable in capped 

 hock ; a part to which any sort of bandage is equally difficult or 

 impossible of application. 



A BLISTER is the remedy loudly and universally lauded for 

 curb ; and for the practical reason that curbed hocks are found to 

 stand after blistering, while they frequently fail after mild treat- 

 ment. It is easy to account for this. An ordinary blister — more 

 severe than a sweating one — and especially if the hair be trimmed 

 off, and the blister be a "strong" one, occupies some considerable 

 time in working off, during which an entire change takes place in 

 the organization of the curb. Any inflammation still remaining in 

 the swelling is altogether superseded by the renewed and violent 

 inflammatory action caused by the blister, and internal as well as 

 external parts become involved in it. The consequence is, that the 

 eflfusion of lymph is still further augmented, the parts inflamed 

 afresh become agglutinated together, and in the end a general thick- 

 ening takes place, implicating all around, rendering the curb indu- 

 rated and callous, little organised, and little subject to any renewal 

 of inflammatory action. By this general consolidation and thicken- 

 ing the motion of the parts, no doubt, is for a time hindered and 

 restricted ; by usage, however, the permanent adhesions elongate, 

 giving to the parts they unite, by degrees, looseness and liberty, and 



