BLEEDING. 43 



7. The yellows, when attended with feverish symptoms, or consti- 

 pation of the bowels, requires bleeding. 



The manner of performing- this operation is too well known to re- 

 quire any description. 



The Fleam is an instrument in general use for oxen, and the jugular 

 or neck vein is that which is mostly opened. Local bleeding is, how- 

 ever, in many cases particularly serviceable. In inflammation of the 

 eye, the eye-vein is frequently cut; in fool-halt, we sometimes bleed 

 at the toe; and in inflammation of the bowels, or the udder, or even 

 of the chest, blood is advantageously taken from the milk-vein. 



The quantity of blood that it may be proper to take away at one 

 time cannot here be determined ; but must be regulated by the size, 

 strength, and condition of the animal, and the disease under which 

 he labours. In many inflammatory complaints too much can hardly 

 be taken, provided the bleeding is stopped as soon as the patient 

 appears likely to faint or to fall down. A strong healthy beast will 

 bear tlie loss of five or six quarts of blood, without the least injury. 

 Larger cattle, that are attacked with inflammatory complaints, will 

 profit by the abstraction of a greater quantity ; seven or eight quarts 

 may be taken away with decided advantage : but when it is necessary 

 to repeat the bleeding, the degree of fever and the strength of the 

 beast will regulate the quantity. The blood should flow from a large 

 orifice, for sudden depletion is far more powerful in its operation than 

 when the blood is suffered slowly to trickle down. The blood must 

 never he suffered to fall vpnn the frround, but should he received iido a 

 vieasure, in order that the quantity taken maybe known. No absolute 

 quantity of blood should ever be prescribed, but when extensive bleed- 

 ing is demanded, the stream should flow until the pulse falters, or 

 intermits, or the animal begins to heave violently, or threatens to fall, 

 or other circumstances show that the system is sufliciently aflccted. 

 The beast should not be permitted to drink cold water immediately 

 after bleeding, nor to graze in the field : the former has sometimes 

 induced troublesome catarrh, and the latter may cause the orifice to 

 o])on ngain. If this operation is performed in tiie summer season, it 

 will be most prudent to fetch the cattle out of the pasture towards 

 evening, in order that they may be bled ; and, after that, to let them 

 stand in the fold-yard all night, and drive them back to the field on 

 the following morning. 



CHAPTER III. 



ON PHYSIC. 



Purging medicines operate by increasing the evacuation of faeces 

 from the bowels, and thus often removing a very considerable source 

 of irritation. They augment the secretion of the exhalent vessels 



