A CRISIS. 139 



that done without hesitation, is absolutely neces- 

 sary ; and in such I have used the lancet as freely 

 as any one. To instance, where, from great sudden 

 exertion, we find the horse stop, his mouth 

 dry and hot, the action of the heart greatly 

 accelerated, and the abdominal vessels in a state 

 of flutter, the animal beginning to stagger, shiver, 

 have a frightened look, and the eyes hot and 

 bloodshot, here bleeding will probably stop stag- 

 gers and inflammation going on; and bran tea, 

 or a bran mash, if he can be got to eat it, is all he 

 should be allowed till we find the pulse begin to 

 beat with its usual pulsation. It will probably, 

 shortly after, begin to beat feebly and slower than 

 usual : in that case, we may consider that life is 

 pretty safe; and then nourishment may, and, 

 indeed, should, be carefully and gradually given. 

 Laudanum, in cases of this sort, is a very dan- 

 gerous article in the hands of an ordinary groom ; 

 he has perhaps just learned enough to know that 

 it is a sedative ; so it is, given at a proper time, 

 and to prevent inflammation taking place ; but 

 where it actually has done so, it is usually as 

 improper to be given, as it would have been 

 judicious when we only feared its coming on ; our 

 friend bran must then be the sedative. 



Bran is also most useful Avhere we find water 

 hard, or a horse subject to be aflected by it; 

 indeed, it is always a safe precaution to use it 



