196 DICTIONARY OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



The operation was performed in the most cruel and barbar- 

 ous manner. The operator having never studied the anatomy 

 of the parts, it could not be otherwise expected. On an ex- 

 amination of the animal, ossific or bony deposits were found 

 inside the hind legs, in the form of spavin ; deposits also ex- 

 isted on the cannon bones, and on the pasterns, thus proving 

 that the disease was incurable j the general health was im- 

 paired, the knees sprung, and the animal was pronounced by 

 the owner to be worthless ; yet this specimen of inhumanity, 

 the self-styled "doctor," had the audacity to state that he 

 could perform a cure for the trifling sum of five dollars. The 

 fact of his attempting to cure a constitutional disease by local 

 means, under such unfavorable circumstances, shows that he 

 was an ignoramus; and the barbarous manner in which he 

 performed the operation shows that he was destitute of every 

 particle of humanity. The author has digressed merely for 

 the purpose of warning owners of domestic animals against 

 trusting them, when diseased, in the hands of those who are 

 unacquainted with their mechanism. 



Aneurism. A tumor filled with blood, communicating 

 with an artery. It usually occurs from rupture of one of the 

 coats of the artery, and dilatation of the cellular coat : it is then 

 denominated true aneurism. When an artery is wounded, 

 and the blood escapes into the surrounding tissues, it is called 

 false aneurism. 



The general mode of curing aneurism is by tying a ligature 

 around the artery ; the coats of the artery become united, and 

 part of the artery obliterated ; the circulation is carried on by 

 anastomosing vessels. (See Anastomosis.) Some aneurisms 

 have been known to undergo certain natural changes, by 

 which they have been spontaneously cured, thus proving 

 that the vital power is more efficient " than an evil system 

 of medication." 



Anise Seed. A mild carminative. It is much used in vet- 

 erinary practice, and is one of the ingredients in cordial balls. 



Anodynes. Medicines that relieve pain, procure sleep, and 

 lessen the irritability of the nervous system. 



