THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 69 



amount ; and there seems much evidence that certain deleterious 

 matters, the presence of which in the blood gives rise to various 

 diseases, are drawn off from it more speedily and certainly in this 

 way than in any other." 



It has been a universal custom to resort to the lancet, in the 

 cure of this disease. From time immemorial, the most talented 

 of the profession have invariably resorted to the fleam, as their 

 sheet anchor, in the treatment of this, one of the most destructive 

 in the catalogue of veterinary diseases. We object to the deple- 

 tory system, for we have no idea of bleeding a horse to death with 

 a view of saving life. If, as it frequently happens, in this disease, 

 the lungs are congested, and the abstraction of blood will promote 

 the free and full circulation of that which remains, then there 

 might be some excuse for bloodletting. It will be urged that 

 horses do get well after being bled ; but this is no proof of its 

 utility. On the contrary, it goes to show, as in the case where a 

 horse receives a violent blow on the head, by which the skull is 

 fractured, and he recovers, that his health is restored in spite of 

 the violence done. Blood is the fuel that keeps the lamp of life 

 burning ; it is the sum of the powers that resist disease. " With- 

 out blood there is no heat, no motion in the body ; " its abstraction 

 leaves the various organs less capable of self-defence. But there 

 are other reasons why we object to the use of the lancet ; and the 

 first is, the disease can, if curahle, be cured without abstracting 

 blood. 



Secondly. In every disease wherein bleeding has been re- 

 sorted to, complete recovery has been protracted, and the animal 

 manifests the debility by swollen legs, and other unmistakable 

 evidences of derangement of the normal condition. 



Thirdly. Because the letting of blood impoverishes that 

 which remains in the system, and leads to other equally danger- 

 ous diseases as the one it was intended to cure. 



We are aware that our uncompromising opposition to the use 

 of the lancet, in the treatment of pneumonia, will subject us to 

 the sneers of its advocates, who, by the by, are, generally speak- 

 ing, a hundred years behind the age ; their dogmas are to them 

 what the laws were to the Medes and Persians. But some con- 

 solation is afforded us in the fact that there never was a new 

 science but was opposed by seme. The science that Harvey 



