306 IXFLAilMATlOX. 



liemorrliage by wliicli nature often gives relief.' Blood is generally 

 abstracted from the jugular vein, and so the general quantity may be 

 lessened ; but if it can be taken from the neighbourhood of the diseased 

 part, it will be productive of tenfold benefit. One quart of blood abstracted 

 from the coronet in acute founder, by unloading the vessels of the inflamed 

 part, and enabling them to contract, and, in that contraction, to acquire 

 tone' and power to resist future distension, will do more good than five 

 quarts taken from the general circulation. An ounce of blood obtained 

 by scarifying the swelled vessels of the inflamed eye, will give as much 

 relief to that organ as a copious bleeding from the jugular. It is a prin- 

 ciple in the animal frame which should never be lost sight of by the 

 veterinary surgeon, or the horseman, that if by bleeding the process of 

 inflammation can once be checked, — if it can be suspended but for a little 



^vliile, although it may return, it is never wdth the same degree of violence, 



and in many cases it is got rid of entirely. Hence the necessity of bleeding 

 early, and bleeding largely. Many horses are lost for want or insufficiency 

 of bleeding, but v°ry rarely is one materially injured by the most copious 

 extraction°of blood in the early stage of acute inflammation. The horse 

 will bear, and with advantage, the loss of an almost incredible quantity of 

 blood ; four quarts taken from him will be comparatively httle more than 

 one pound taken from the human being. We can scarcely conceive of a 

 considerable inflammation of any part of the horse, whether proceeding 

 from sprains, contusions, or any other cause, in which bleeding, local (if 

 possible), or general, will not be of essential service. 



Next in importance to bleeding, is purging. Something may be re- 

 moved from the bowels, the retention of which would increase the general 

 Irritation and fever. The quantity of blood will be materially lessened ; 

 for the serous or watery fluid which is separated from it by a brisk pui^ge, 

 the action of which in the horse continues frequently more than tAventy- 

 four hours, is enormous. While the blood is thus determined to the bowels, 

 less even 'of that which remains will flow through the inflamed part. 

 When the circulation is directed to one set of vessels, it is proportionately 

 diminished in other parts. It was first directed to the inflamed portions, 

 and they were overloaded and injured, — it is now directed to the bowels, 

 and the inflamed parts are reheved. While the purging continues, some 

 deo-ree of languor and sickness are felt, and the force of the calculation is 

 thereby diminished, and the general excitement lessened. The importance 

 of physic in every case of considerable external inflammation is sufficiently 

 evident. If the horse is laid by for a few days from injury of the foot, 

 or sprain, or poll-evil, or wound, or almost any cause of inflammation, a 

 physic-ball should be given. _ .-,.■,. 



in cases of internal inflammation, much judgment is required to deter- 

 mine when a purgative may be beneficial or injurious. In inflammation 

 of the luno-s, it should never be given. There is so strong a sympathy 

 between the various contents of the cavity of the chest, that no one_ of 

 them can be inflamed to any great extent without all the others bemg 

 disposed to become so ; and, therefore, a dose of physic m inflamed lungs 

 would perhaps be as fatal as a dose of poison. The excitement produced 

 on the bowels by the purgative may run on to inflammation, which no 



medical skill can stop. . j • i 



The means of abating external inflammation are various, and seemingly 

 contradictory. The heat of the part very naturally led to the application 

 of cold embrocations and lotions. Heat has a strong tendency to equalise 

 itself or to leave that substance which has a too great quantity of it, or 

 little capacity to retain it, for another which has less of it or more 

 capacity. Hence the advantage of cold appHcations, by which a great 



