346 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



be frequently applied, the horse's head being tied to the rack, as 

 it always ought to be after bleeding frona the neck, for one or 

 two hours. "With this treatment the swelling will commonly 

 subside, but sometimes it terminates in an 



Inflamed Vein. 



[This is a very troublesome complaint, requiring a consider- 

 able display of that patience, of which, very frequently, the 

 owner has little to spare. It may commence with a swelling just 

 after the bleeding ; but generally the first appearance is a little 

 swelling, and a few days afterwards a separation of the lips of 

 the wound and a little acrid fluid oozing from it. In slight 

 cases, matter may form external to the vein, and the part soon 

 gets well, the vein itself not being much affected. J\Iore fre- 

 quently, however, a considerable swelling takes place, the vein 

 above the wound feels hard, and the parotid gland is greatly en- 

 larged. This denotes a stoppage in the passage of the blood, 

 which therefore becomes stagnant, and chokes up the vessels 

 passing through the gland. When this occurs, the vein will un- 

 questionably be lost. Sometimes there is considerable haemor- 

 rhage fi'om the vein, which is stopped with some difficult}'. 



Treatment. — If there be considerable swelling, and some heat, 

 the best ])lan is to foment with warm water the first day, and keep 

 the swelling wet with cold lotion for a day or two afterwards ; 

 by so doing, we get rid of a good deal of superficial enlargement, 

 although the principal swelling still remains. We should next 

 blister the enlargement, either by a strong application at once, 

 which may be washed off the second day and repeated, or by 

 frequent mild blisters in a liquid form. The horse should be 

 tied up to the rack as much as possible, so as to prevent the head 

 from being held in a depending position. The diet should con- 

 sist principally of mashes ; hay should be avoided, as it requires 

 so much mastication ; the action of the jaws forcing the blood 

 towards the jugular veins, and thus increasing the swelling. A 

 mild dose of physic should be given, and a little nitre subse- 

 quently. This simple mode of treatment I have found effectual 

 in every case (a great number) in which it has been employed. 

 The vein is genei'ally lost; but in the course of a month the 

 swelling is in great measure absorbed ; the blood finds other 

 channels, and the horse is fit for the saddle, and a few weeks 

 afterwards for harness. I deprecate the practice of using caustic 

 injections, not only because they are uncalled for, but also be- 

 cause they are dangerous ; they have, in a few instances, entered 

 the vein and caused death. I have experienced no difficulty in 

 healing the sinuses when they have formed, merely by pressing 

 out the matter and applying the blister as before observed ; and 



