258 Management and Treatment of the Horse. 



the skin, and if applied as hot as the animal can 

 endure, it will more readily take off the tension 

 that has been produced by inflammatory swelling; 

 poultices will have much the same effect. Blisters 

 have often been applied with great success in 

 deep-seated inflammations, for by creating inflam- 

 mation on the surface on the principle of counter- 

 irritation, it will have the tendency to lessen it 

 in other parts, as great inflammation cannot exist 

 in two places close together at the same time. 



PLEUEISY. 



This disease, which unhappily is too common, 

 is entirely confined to inflammation of the pleura 

 or membrane which lines the chest — hence its 

 name — and has connexion with the substance of 

 the lungs. The pulse is hard, but not oppressed, 

 the extremities are cold, although not so much as 

 in common inflammation, nor is the membrane of 

 the nostril very red. If pressure on the side is 

 applied, the horse will express pain by a sharp 

 grunt. The unwillingness of the horse to lie 

 down will soon manifest itself in this as in 

 violent inflammation of the lungs. This disease, 

 like inflammation of the lungs, is generally caused 

 by sudden transitions from heat to cold. In this 

 complaint bleeding is generally adopted, followed 

 by a course of sedative medicine, administered in 

 the form of a gentle purgative, which may be 

 given with more safety in this disease than in 

 inflammation of the lungs. If pleurisy is violent, 

 it frequently induces dropsy in the chest, which, 



