214 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



" On this question I do not expect your members to fight over 

 again the well- contested battles of 183f)-7 ; but it will, perhaps, 

 be interesting again to canvass the opinions of many of those 

 Avho then fought in the foremost ranks, and to ascertain whether 

 any, and if any, what alteration, has taken place in their opinions 

 from ruminating over the cud of reflection during four years. 

 My own opinion is shown by my practice. I cannot say that it 

 has undergone any change, or, if any, it slightly leans towards 

 the side of the opponents of venesection. I take it for granted 

 that the chief art in treating the disease is to kno^v when to 

 bleed, and when to abstain ; being guided in this matter chiefly 

 by the state of the pulse. Where, however, I have not bled 

 generally, I have witnessed the very best eflfects from local bleed- 

 ing. It has, in a few hours, relieved the tumefiiction of the 

 eyelids, and the heaviness of the head, to a great extent. One 

 thing is most clear, — we can produce a very great eflfect on the 

 system by moderate bleeding. 



" 5thly. Is aperient medicine judicious ? 



" This, too, is an old disputed point. I am myself in favour 

 of a very moderate dose at the commencement, but against its 

 repetition. I have most commonly administered five drops of 

 croton oil, which has generally produced a suflSciently laxative 

 effect. The addition of a few drops more I have known pro- 

 duce purgation. I am inclined to believe that a very mo- 

 derate action on the intestines will hasten the recovery of the 

 patient.* 



*' I have been required to attend several cases of superpur- 

 gation from the administration of full doses of physic in this 

 disease by empirical practitioners. 



" In one instance I was called to see an animal which one of 

 these savans had previously visited, and for which he had im- 

 mediately put in practice the whole list of his remedies — a mild 

 dose of physic, a rowel in the brisket, a blister on the throat 

 (there was no affection of the air passages), and he was just 

 going to take away six quarts of blood ; but this the employer 

 would not permit until he had consulted me. I attended a few 

 hours afterwards, and, from the pulse, I deemed it prudent to 

 abstract a few pounds of blood, which proved bufty. The 

 next morning I found the pulse much softer, and not increased 

 in quickness, the fever less, and the general symptoms more 

 favourable; but, notwithstanding this, the man had been there 

 before me, and, finding the physic had not yet operated, he 

 wished to give another dose, and to take away six quarts more 



* Additional experience has so far modified this opinion, that in ordinary 

 cases the administration of a few drachms of the proto-chloride of mercury 

 in small doses, will have a sufficiently laxative effect on the system. 



