6 VETERINARY LECTURES 



to a few possible diseases only. The thermometer is 

 of great utility in this department. 



(4) Prognosis means the prediction of probable progress 



and result of a malady. 



(5) Therapeutics is the branch of medicine concerned in the 



treatment of diseases. 



(6) Hygiene treats of ventilation, sanitation, clothing, 



dieting, nursing, etc. ; in fact, all items for the main- 

 tenance of health and its preservation. 



(7) Epizootic, or Epidemic, is a term used when a disease 



is very prevalent, attacking many people or animals 

 at the same time — e.g., influenza, pleuro-pneumonia, 

 and foot and mouth disease. 



(8) Enzootic refers to diseases confined to certain localities 



— ague in man, red water in cows, louping-ill and 

 braxy in sheep, etc. 



(9) Specific is a term used when the disease arises from 



some specific germ — i.e., glanders, pleuro-pneumonia, 

 anthrax, etc. 

 (10) Sporadic refers to diseases generally, occurring daily — 

 e.g., simple inflammation of the bowels, lungs, and 

 feet, plagues, etc. 



There are other terms used, but the foregoing are quite sufficient. 



14. Before reviewing some of the injuries, derangements, and 

 diseases of the different organs of the body, I shall first refer briefly 

 to that extensive and most important subject — inflammation. 



15. Inflammation may be defined as an increased nutritive 

 action in the first stage ; secondly, perverted atomic change in the 

 tissues of a part, with heat, pain, redness, and swelling, and is the most 

 common disturbance affecting the organs of the animal creation. 

 And yet inflammation, like fire or water, is a good servant as well 

 as a bad master, and may be looked upon both as reparative and 

 destructive. Without its aid the ends of fractured bones would not 

 unite, nor would surgical operations result successfully, if it was not 



