•242 INFLAMMATION OF THE YEIX. 



coats tliickened, but the cellular tissue inflamed and hardened, and is an 

 additional sotu'ce of irritation and torture. 



Human surgeons say that inflammation of a vein spreads towards the 

 Jieart. In the horse, and we will venture to say in every animal, it 

 spreads in the direction in which the coagulation is formed, and that in the 

 jugular must be upward, although from the heart. In the veins of thn 

 arm and leg it will likewise spread upward, and then toivards the heart, 

 because the coagiilation takes place in that direction. ^ 



The two grand questions here are, the cause and the cure.. The first 

 would seem to admit of an easy reply. A long list of circumstances has 

 been just given which would seem to refer the matter entirely to the 

 operator ; yet, on the other hand, experience tells us that he has little to 

 do with these morbid efi'ects of bleeding. Mr. Percivall states, that Mr. 

 Cherry tried several times to produce inflammation by the use of rasty 

 lancets, and escharoties of various kinds, and ligatures, and frequent sepa- 

 ration and friction of the granulating edges, but in vain. Professor 

 Spooner tried to produce the disease, but could not. 



On the other hand, it is well known, that while inflammation rarely or 

 never follows the operation of bleeding by some practitioners, others are 

 continually getting into scrapes abc^ut it. The writer of this Avork had 

 three house-pupils, two of whom he used to trust to bleed his patients, 

 and no untoward circumstance ever occurred ; but as surely as he sent 

 the thii"d, he had an inflamed vein to take care of. 



There is sometliing yet undivulged in the process of healing the vein, 

 or in the cii-cumstances by which that healing is prevented. The most 

 powerful causes probably are, that the lips of the wound have not been 

 brought into immediate apposition, or that a portion of the hair — a single 

 hair is sufficient — has insinuated itself. The horse has not, perhaps, had 

 his head tied up to the rack after bleeding, which should always be done 

 for at least an hour, during which time the extravasated blood will become 

 firmly coagulated, and the flow of blood to the heart will establish its 

 uninterrupted course. It is also probable that atmospheric agency may 

 be conceiTied in the affau-, or a diseased condition of the horse, and par- 

 ticularly a susceptibility of taking an inflammatory action, although the 

 exciting cause may be exceedingly slight. 



Of the means of cure it is difficult to speak confidently. The wound 

 should be carefully examined — the divided edges brought into exact 

 apposition, and any hair interposed between them removed — the pin with- 

 drawn — the pai't carefully and long spong-ed with cold water, repeated at 

 short intervals day and night — the head should be kept steadied by being 

 tied short to the rack, and cold slop diet alone allowed ; the efl'ect of the 

 cold water will be aided by the addition of spirits of wine, which will 

 increase the evaj^oration, and the application of ice itself, if obtainable, 

 is very desirable. In six-and-thirty hours, should not the appearance of 

 the wound have improved, should not the very circumscribed swelling 

 around it have subsided, apply a blister, the size of a crown, immediately 

 over the wound ; the prompt use of this remedy will in very many instances 

 cut short the disease. 



If two or three days have passed and the discharge still remains, the 

 application of the budding iron — not too large or too hot — may produce 

 engorgement of the neighbouring parts, and union of the hps of the wound. 

 This should be daily, or every second day, repeated, according to circum- 

 stances. The blister may be repeated over the orifice, and should not the 

 lips of the incision be united, a solution of the sulphate of zinc or sulphate 

 of copper may be injected twice a day : this is the mode of treatment the 

 veterinary surgeon consulted wouhl inost probably adopt. ' Sometimes,' 



