36 



tlie age, size, and strength of the horse, together with 

 the nature of the disease. In violent inflammations 

 of important organs, as the lungs, bowels, &c. too 

 little is usually taken away : in these cases, five, six, 

 or even seven quarts are not too much. A horse has 

 lost forty pounds w ithout fainting, and has recovered. 

 If, in acute or violent diseases, the blood drawn is 

 finn, with a white tough crust on it, a repetition of the 

 bleeding in a few hours is w^arranted. This particu- 

 larly is the case if the symptoms yet remain hi force, 

 though the animal seems but little weakened by the 

 former bleeding; also if his pulse, or the beating 

 of the heart, which was before obscure, became more 

 evident as the blood flowed. Blood, when drawn, 

 should always be measured ; that is, never suffer it to 

 fall from the horse into straw, or on tlie ground, for 

 horses have bled to death by this means; or too 

 small a quantity has been taken, which has proved 

 equally fatal. 



When it is necessary to drav/ blood from the plate 

 vein, or those of the legs, great care is requisite to 

 avoid piercing through the blood vessel, and w ound- 

 ing the parts below, which might occasion very serious 

 inflammation. In these cases, ^ lancet or spring 

 fleam can alone be used \s ith safety, but the lancet is 

 by much the most proper. The neck vein may like- 

 wise be very properly and easily punctured by this 

 means, and which in timid horses proves an excellent 

 mode. 



Bleeding in health, to prevent disease, is seldom 

 necessary; however, to condemn it altogether is as 

 improper; for there are cases when it may prevent 

 very fatal diseases. When it is necessary to get a 



