256 Management and Treatment of the Hoi'se. 



superseded the use of the lance. Whenever it 

 is considered necessary to have recourse to blood- 

 letting in cases of local inflammation, the stream 

 of blood should flow freely ; and to eff'ect this 

 the broad-shouldered lancet should be used, so 

 that the wound in the vein may be ample. In 

 whatever situation the inflammation occurs, and 

 blood-letting is resorted to, the bleeding should 

 be immediate and ample; and after bleeding, 

 purgative medicine must next be administered, 

 because the mucous membrane of the bowels and 

 coating of the stomach are in most instances 

 afi'ected sympathetically by a deranged action in 

 any other part of the system. Should this not be 

 the case, they may be otherwise irregular, which 

 invariably increases all kinds of inflammation, 

 and fever is induced more especially when there 

 is much retention. In any case purging has the 

 efi'ect of lessening the quantity of blood, by 

 removing from it the serous or watery portion, 

 and by determining the blood to the bowels. 

 The pressure is necessarily removed from the 

 inflamed vessels, as it is a law of the animal 

 economy that where the circulation is directed 

 to one set of vessels, it proportionately diminishes 

 the flow in other parts of the system. Purging, 

 by producing languor and sickness, lessens the' 

 general excitement, and hence the pressure upon 

 the circulation is circumscribed. In administering 

 medicine in cases of internal inflammation, much 

 caution and consideration is required, because 

 what would be beneficial in some cases may be 

 prejudicial in others. Thus in inflammation of the 



