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INFLAMMATION. 101 



fourth, sixth, or tentli pulsation, at others very irregular, the 

 interaiis^-ion varying continually. An intermittent pulse rarely 

 calls for blood-lettinfi:. 



The effect of bleeding on the pulse is, at first, to quicken its 

 action as well as to diminish its force, and, if canned to some 

 extent, to render it imperceptible, and to cause syncope or 

 fainting, which is temporary cessation of the flow of blood to the 

 head. 



The Treatment of Inflammation will mainly depend on the 

 object we have in view, whether to seek for resolution, or any of 

 the other terminations we have mentioned. In inflammatory 

 affections of vital parts, our treatment should be such as to bring 

 about the restoration of the organs to their normal state ; in fact, 

 resolution. For this purpose large blood lettings are generally 

 had recourse to, and with great advantage. By general bleed- 

 ing we subtract blood from the system, and consequently there 

 is less blood sent to the inflamed part, the capillary vessels of 

 which may thus have time to relieve themselves. 



The benefit of general bleeding is much assisted by abstract- 

 ing blood rapidly, and from a large orifice ; a sudden check is 

 thus put upon the circulation, which, though of short duration, 

 is yet of great service in acute inflammation. In cases of active 

 inflammation, the best guide as to the quantity of blood to be 

 abstracted is obtained by observing its effect on the pulse, and 

 on the mouth. We should bleed until the latter feels con- 

 siderably cooler, and the former becomes altered in its character, 

 becoming softer and weaker, though generally quicker. 



The state of the blood is a very uncertain criterion, and 

 should have but little influence over our treatment. This, how- 

 ever, may be observed, that when it j)resents a buffy coat, there 

 is usually a capability for bearing bleeding, and the contrary 

 when the blood is very black, sup])osing it is drawn from a large 

 orifice. Local bleeding for internal inflammations can seldom 

 be practised in the horse. 



Althou2;h bleedino- is the sheet-anchor in acute inflammation, 

 other remedies are of importance. 



Punjmg, though useful in some inflammations, is to be con- 

 demned when the chest is affected; as, by sympathy between 

 the lungs and the bowels, the irritation of the latter by purga- 

 tion has a very injurious effect on the lungs, besides lowering 

 the system to a great extent. It is, however, desirable to obtain 

 a moderately relaxed state of the bowels. 



Diuresis is of much greater benefit : by detemiining a greater 

 quantity of blood to the kidneys, a portion is diverted from an 

 inflamed part, and the system is also unloaded by the increased 

 secretion of urine. Medicines are often administered having a 



CD 



tendency to produce nausea on the stomach, the effect of Avhich 



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