16 VETERINARY LECTURES 



blood-poisoning, having set in. Owing to the extensive swelling, 

 we are often tempted to scarify the distended parts by plunging in 

 the lancet, thus admitting the air and hurrying on that process we 

 wished most to avoid — viz., mortification, or death of the part, and 

 also of the patient as well. All the formidable effects of blood- 

 poisoning can, however, be induced by a very small punctured 

 wound or scratch with a sharp instrument. Pyaemia, is another 

 form of blood-poisoning, due to the micro-organisms, not only circu- 

 lating in the blood, but deposited in various organs and tissues of 

 the body, and the formation of abscesses or gatherings. 



35. The Causes of Inflammation are various, and are termed 

 vital, chemical, and mechanical. Vital causes may arise through some 

 occult changes taking place within the body itself ; chemical, from 

 the application or use of strong acids, alkalies, etc. ; mechanical, 

 from blows, wounds, pressure, burns, etc., and inhalation of noxious 

 gases and irritants. All the living tissues of the body are prone to 

 the influence of inflammation ; and whenever we have inflammation 

 of any one organ or part of the body, it is always accompanied, 

 more or less, by general or constitutional fever, which necessitates 

 both local and constitutional treatment. 



36. Local Treatment is the application of remedies, directly, to 

 the affected parts, as by removing the shoes and putting on cold 

 water bran poultices, in founder or inflammation of the feet. Weed, 

 or inflammation of the absorbents or lymphatic vessels of the hind 

 or fore leg, is another good case for local treatment, and no treatment 

 is better than to wind meadow-hay bandages, saturated well with 

 cold water, round the affected limb. Abscesses forming in any 

 superficial part of the body is another illustration of the application 

 of local treatment, which may be by hot or cold poultices, cooling 

 lotions, salt and saltpetre dissolved in water, ice, sal ammoniac, 

 vinegar and water, or stimulating liniments and blisters, and in a 

 case of inflammation of the lungs, hot blankets applied to the sides. 



37. Constitutional Treatment is the administration of internal 

 remedies applicable to the case, and has to be adopted when there is 

 a general disturbance set up — sympathetic fever. 



