z04 D^WS VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURUcR* 



Now, if it can be made to appear that disease consists, in lis 

 nature and effects, in increased vital action or increased health of 

 any portion of the body diseased, then will it be proved that poi- 

 sons are, and of necessity must be, medicines or the agents to cure 

 disease. But what are we taught by our brethren of the heroic 

 school upon this point? "In spontaneous disease," that is, dis- 

 ease which occurs without any apparent cause, Hunter contends, 

 4 'we know of no method that will entirely quiet or remove the 

 inflammatory action or disposition. All we can do, probably, is 

 to lessen every thing which has a tendency to keep it up. In- 

 flammation is either an increase of life or an increase of a dispo- 

 sition to use it." 



Again : " One of the means of curing this inflammation," says 

 the same author, " is by producing weakness. The means of pro- 

 ducing weakness Of an absolute character are, bleeding, purging, 

 and the exhibition of poisonous agents. The inconvenience, how- 

 ever, arising from this practice is, that the sound and healthy 

 parts must suffer nearly in the same proportion with the diseased ; 

 for, by bringing the inflamed parts on a par with health, the 

 sound parts must be brought much lower, so as to be too low. 

 The first method, namely, bleeding, will have the greatest, the 

 most permanent, the most lasting effect; because, if it have any 

 effect at all, the diseased action can not be soon renewed; the 

 second, purging and poisoning, will act as auxiliary, so that these 

 processes go hand in hand ; but neither these nor sickness can pos- 

 sibly lessen the original inflammatory disposition. Lessening the 

 power of action belonging to the inflammatory disposition can 

 only lessen or protect its effects, which, however, may be of serv- 

 ice, as less mischief will be done, and this will often give the 

 inflamed disposition time to wear itself out. But this practice 

 must not be carried too far. It must be followed with great 

 judgment. Nothing debilitates so much as purging, if carried 

 beyond a certain point. Even one purging may kill when the 

 constitution is much reduced. The internal medicines generally 

 ordered for the cure of inflammations are such as have a similar 

 effect to that of bleeding ; namely, lowering the constitution or 

 the action of the parts. As inflammation has too much action, 

 which action gives the idea of strength, such applications a* 

 weaken are recommended." 



Here, then, are the reasons for the use of poisons to cure dip- 



