FEVER. 103 



evaporation. Caloric, the principle of heat, is thereby abstracted 

 I'roia the part aftected. 



If we wish to prevent the formation of matter in an external 

 part, we apply cold lotions ; but, if our object be to encourage 

 suppuration, we have recourse to warm poultices and foment- 

 ations. 



In severe strains, warm fomentations are often employed first 

 with advantage, and are succeeded by cold applications ; we 

 thereby relieve the inflamed part, first by means of perspiration, 

 and afterwards by evaporation. 



Counter-irritants, such as blisters and setons, are employed 

 after the inflammation has abated ; their beneficial effect is pro- 

 duced by withdrawing the blood from the inflamed part to 

 another and a healthy locality. If employed, however, in too 

 early a stage, they often increase the inflammation they are in- 

 tended to abate. — Ed.] 



CHAP. XXII. 



ON FEVER. 



[Having largely noticed the subject of Inflammation, we shall 

 have but little to say on that of Fever. It is, however, usually 

 considered of two kinds — Symptomatic, ox Liflammatory Fever; 

 and Simple continued Fever, or Synoclius, 



The former we have already alluded to, under the head of 

 inflammation. In an inflammatory disease, when the pulse is 

 full and frequent, the mouth hot, and the membrane of the nos- 

 tril injected, we say, there is much fever ; and the presence of 

 these symptoms usually guides us in the abstraction of blood. 



In such cases, generally, though by no means invariably, the 

 blood presents a buffy coat, which is usually considered, and 

 often with justice, an evidence of the propriety of blood-letting. 

 Where there is much general fever, accompanied by local 

 inflammation, such as from an open joint, or external injury, 

 there is a greater proportion of fibrine in the blood than in a 

 state of health ; and so, likewise, in acute rheumatic aftections. 



Simple continued fever is a well recognised disease in man ; 

 but, in the horse, its existence has been often denied. It is, 

 however, the fact, that we have occasional cases of fever in the 

 horse, without any symptoms of local inflammation, and, in svich 

 cases, we rarely find a butty coat presented by the blood, and 

 there is, generally, an inability for bearing large venesections. 

 iSuch cases are often ushered in by shivering fits, and which 

 sometimes recur during the progress of the complaint. In some 

 epidemic diseases, particularly in the influenza, so prevalent in 



H 4 



