Influenza; its Treatment. 71 



very life of our patient depends npon our correct 

 diagnoses. There are many cases that require all 

 the practice, ability, and enlightened judgment 

 we can exercise to clearly comprehend them. 

 How I wish I was endowed with a stronger in- 

 telligence that would enable me to clear away all 

 the mist that surrounds this part of my subject. 

 I have devoted much time upon this matter for a 

 number of years, yet I find the more I study the 

 more I have to learn. But of this I think it is 

 fully demonstrated, that influenza is not the fault 

 of the groom, as too many gentlemen and prac- 

 titioners are very ready to assert. We will pre- 

 sume that we have decided in our own minds that 

 our patient is one that comes under the denomi- 

 nation of complicated influenza — that is, influenza 

 located in some vital organ and assuming a malig- 

 nant type. What is the best treatment to be 

 adopted — first, is vivisection or vesication indi- 

 cated ? The impression upon my own mind is 

 that they are not. The conclusion I have formed 

 during a pretty extensive experience, in large 

 studs, and among heavy cart and dray horses, is 

 that nature will not tolerate coercion, and that it 

 can repair damages much better than we can do. 

 It does it in less time and much more effectually 

 by vital force, which has a greater curative power 

 than any other remedy possesses. What l^ature 

 does is done spontaneously, if we only give her 

 fair play. I am quite satisfied that bleeding is 

 dangerous, and should not be attempted under 

 any circumstances. My deceased father told me 

 of a great outbreak of influenza when he was in 



