PXEUMOXIA.— IXFLAiLMATIOX OF THE LUXfiS. 289 



pdvtion as we do so, we abate, or stand a chance of abating, the inflamma- 

 tion within. 



We have recourse to a blister in preference to a seton ; and deciuedly 

 so, for our stimuhis can be spread over a larger surface, — there is more 

 chance of its being applied to the immediate neighbourhood of tlie original 

 inflammation — and most assuredly, from the extent of surface on which 

 we can act, we can employ a quantity of stimulus beyond comparison 

 greater than a seton would permit us to do. The first blister should be 

 applied to the brisket ; the whole of the front of the chest, from the throat 

 to well down between the fore-legs, should be included, and the blister 

 Avell rubbed in for at least ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. The 

 i-esult of this will be extensive swelling and bagging of the skin between 

 the fore-legs, from the large effusion of serum that is poured out into the 

 cellular tissue under the loose skin. One or two long setons, the entire 

 depth of the chest, may be inserted at the same time, and become valuable 

 drains for the effused fluid. The next day a blister, large and extensive, 

 should be applied on each side of the chest, immediately behind the elbows, 

 of at least a foot each in diameter. 



In the latter stage of disease the blister will not act, because the powera 

 of nature are exliausted. We must repeat it, — we must rouse the sinking 

 energies of the frame, if we can, although the effort will generally be 

 fruitless. The not rising of a blister, in the latter stage of the disease, 

 may too often be regarded as the precursor of death, especially if it ia 

 accompanied by a Kvid or brown colour of the membrane of the nose. 

 Should the usual blisters fail to act, they should be washed oflP, and the 

 tartar-emetic ointment well rubbed in in their place. This ointment, 

 composed of a drachm of tartar emetic to an oiince of lard, will rouse the 

 action of the skin when every other application would be impotent. No 

 case, indeed, should be allowed to proceed to a fatal termination, — the 

 blisters having failed to operate, — without this powerful counter-irritant 

 being had recourse to. 



Pneumonia, like bronchitis, requires anxious watching. The first object 

 is to subdue the inflammation, and our measures must be prompt and 

 decisive. The good which we can do must be done at first, or not at all. 



The commencement of the state of convalescence requires the same 

 gTiarded practice as in broncliitis. As many horses are lost by impatience 

 now, as by want of decision at tii"st. K we have subdued the disease we 

 should let well alone. We should guard against the return of the foe by 

 the continued administration of our sedatives in smaller qiiantities, and 

 give tonics if debility is rapidly succeeding. When we have apparently 

 weathered the storm, we must still be cautious ; we must consider the 

 nature and the seat of the disease, and the predisposition to returning in- 

 flammation. If the season will permit, two or three months' run at gTass 

 should succeed to our medical treatment ; but if this is impracticable, we 

 must put off the period not only of active work but of lengthened exercise 

 as long as it can be delayed, and even after that permit the horse to 

 return as gradually as may be to his usual employment and food. 



Most frequent in occurrence, in connection with inflammation of the 

 lungs, is 



PLEURISY. 



This disease of the investing membrane of the lungs and of the thoracic 

 cavity, namely the pleura, next demands our attention. 



The prevailing causes of pleurisy are the same as those which produce 

 pneumonia— exposure to wet and cold, sudden alternations of temperature, 

 partial exposure to draughts of cold aii', riding against a keen wind, 



D 



