DISEASES OF THE CHEST AND AIR-PASSAGES. 119 



mischief. These medicines may be repeated, in diminished doses, 

 three times the first day, and twice the second. 



Mr. Percivall recommends half a drachm of white helleboi^e 

 twice a day instead of the digitalis. It is a powerful medicine, 

 and lowers the pulse by producing nausea. It requires to be 

 given with caution, under the eye of the practitioner, and its 

 effects carefully watched. Mr. Mavor advises two drachms of 

 extract of belladonna as a sedative. I have employed both these 

 medicines, and can speak to their good effects. 



Counter-irritation. — After the urgency of the symptoms have 

 been in some measure relieved by bloodletting, counter-irritation 

 may be very serviceable in preventing change of structure from 

 taking place. A blister is to be preferred, and should be applied, 

 as recommended by ]Mr. Percivall, to the breast, in preference to 

 the sides, as it is much more likely to act in the former muscular 

 situation than in the latter. In fatal cases, a blister will scarcely 

 ever produce any effect ; and this symptom is therefore justly 

 regarded as one of the most unfixvourable that can possibly occur. 

 If the case be protracted, or takes on a sub-acute form, rowels 

 and setons may be useful, as well as blisters. 



The diet in inflammation of the lungs should consist of bran 

 mashes, hay, carrots, or green food ; and care should be taken 

 that the horse is not restored to his usual diet until the inflam- 

 matory symptoms have entirely ceased. 



The body should be kept tolerably warm by clothing, and the 

 legs encased in flannel bandages ; their warmth having been pre- 

 viously restored by hand-rubbing, assisted by the application of a 

 liniment, composed of four parts of oil, one of spirits of turpen- 

 tine, and one of hartshorn, which should be rubbed in as often 

 as they become cold. 



It is of great importance that the horse should be allowed to 

 breathe the purest and the coolest air; for which purpose he 

 should be turned into a loose box, well ventilated, and in the 

 summer he may be turned into a paddock with advantage. — Ed.] 



Sub-acnte Pneumonia. 



[When inflammation of the lungs takes on a sub-acute form, 

 either from the beginning or after an acute attack, our treat- 

 ment, though conducted on the same principles as that before 

 mentioned, must be less active in its nature. The symptoms are 

 more obscure, and demand more tact and discrimination : the 

 breathing is less disturbed, the pulse not so quick, the appetite 

 not so much impaired ; and yet fatal mischief may be going on 

 under this insidious form, and, if not checked, may end in 

 death. 



The bleeding should be less extensive, but more frequent than 



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