72 Management and Treatment of the Horse. 



the army, when bleeding was largely resorted to, 

 with a result of the loss of ninety-five per cent, 

 of the patients. This treatment should never be 

 resorted to while we possess such drugs as aconite. 

 Counter-irritation is also to be deprecated if used 

 severely to the throat and sides ; yet much benefit 

 is derived from a gentle stimulating with mustard, 

 or, as Mr. Mavor advocates, mustard and linseed 

 meal. By condemning blisters — I mean fly 

 blisters — I must give a reason for doing so. In 

 the first place, we create an additional inflam- 

 mation, doubling the constitutional disturbance, 

 driving the blood with increased fury through 

 the system, especially through the diseased organs, 

 helping to exhaust and break down their struc- 

 ture, and thereby cause irreparable damage. 

 Another serious evil is that we have sympathetic 

 disturbance from absorption of the fly. I have 

 always adopted mustard, in the early stages of 

 influenza, and with marked efl'ect. Mr. Mavor, 

 I am told, uses the vapour bath with great suc- 

 cess. In many cases I have derived much benefit 

 from giving the patient sulphate of magnesia in 

 four-ounce doses twice a day, as a febrifuge, 

 alterative, and purifier. Eowels and setons are 

 sometimes used, but do more harm than good. 

 In therapeutics my mode of proceed- 

 ing is similar to that which I adopt in simple 

 influenza ; keep the patient's head to the open 

 door day and night, and give stimulating tonic. 

 Some practical veterinary surgeons give iodide 

 of potassium, and also chlorate of potass, but not 

 having given them myself, I cannot speak of their 



