GLOSS-ANTHRAX, OR BLAIN. 199 



In a very short time the unpleasant smell will diminish or cease, 

 ard the ulcers will begin to assume a more healthy character! 

 When all fetor is removed, the mouth should be bathed with a lo- 

 tion composed of equal parts of tincture of myrrh and water, or a 

 pretty strong solution of alum, and a fourth part of the tincture of 

 catechu. 



This treatment will be usually successful if the ulceration has not 

 assumed too much of the gangrenous character, and if symptomatic 

 or low fever has not appeared in too intense a degree. " These are 

 very important circumstances, and should not be passed lightly over, 

 for several of the most fatal diseases are of comparatively little im- 

 portance, and easily got rid of in the early stage, and neglect pro- 

 duces all the danger. The blain, although easily cured ^when at- 

 tacked in its early state, becomes uniformly fatal if neo-lected. 

 In these early stages of the blain, the disease should not be\lways 

 so simply treated, and the mere lancing of the vesicles the only means 

 adopted ; but it should be the fii-st thing done, and that on which 

 there is the greatest dependence, as attacking the fountain-head of 

 all the after mischief, and getting rid of the danger of suffocation at 

 least. 



The blain, suffered to take its course, speedily becomes connected 

 with fever, and that fever is not long in taking on a typhoid form ; 

 even then we should certainly extract blood. Four, or five, or six 

 quarts should be taken away, according to the size of the beast, and 

 the urgency of the case; or rather we would bleed until we begin 

 to perceive its efix3ct on the general circulation. 



In addition to this, as constipation usually accompanies the com- 

 mencement of fever, and is never absent in cases of blain, we sliould 

 administer a purgative — from a pound to a pound and a half of 

 Epsom salts ; and likewise throw up some laxative injections. 



^ Let Epsom or Glauber salts, or the common culinary salt, be 

 dissolved in simple water or thin gruel. They want nothing to in- 

 sure or increase their eflfect. 



The practitioner may not be called in until gangrenous ulcers fill 

 the mouth, and the membrane of the mouth, and the tongue itself, 

 seem to be sloughing away in pieces ; ulcers, perhaps, have also be- 

 gun to appear externally beliind or under the jaw ; and, most of all 

 to be dreaded, and frequently accompanying the worst stages of 

 blain, ulcers begin to break out about the feet, and particularly at 

 the junction of the hair and the hoof, and threaten the loss of the 

 hoof. 



Chloride of lime must be used from morning to night, until the 

 gangrenous character of the ulcers is changed, and then the tinc- 

 ture of aloes, or the tincture of myrrh substituted. Ulcers in any 

 other part, particularly about the feet, must undergo a similar 

 treatment. Chloride of lime, the solution being by degrees strength- 



