24 



The pulse is the infallible guide as to the quantity of 

 blood sufficient in these cases ; when it falters, it is time to 

 say stop. 



Purgation, especially by saline cathartics, is frequently 

 useful in this treatment. There are, however, some excep- 

 tions to this rule. — ist. Never give purgative medicine in 

 peritonitis or inflammation of the bowels, and especially 

 never give large doses of aloes nor any purgative to young 

 colts. Linseed oil is the proper laxative in these cases. 



Diet. — No stimulating food, during inflammation, is to be 

 permitted, boiled roots, apples, &c., afterwards sufficiency 

 of good oats. Sue. 



Nitrate of Potassa is a very valuable adjunct to cr in 

 some cases substitute for the antimonial nitrate, it is most 

 invaluable, in many cases, as acute laminitis and other 

 diseases in one or two ounce doses. 



Ipecacuanha, combined with opium is especually 

 valuable in bronchial, tracheal, and laryngal inflammation, 

 and in dysentery. 



Veratrum Viride is lately assuming an important place 

 as a cardiac and arterial sedative and promoter of the 

 secretions. 



Aconite is likewise a favourite medicine with some 

 practitioners in the management of pneumonia and pleurisy, 

 but a very deadly remedy in ignorant hands. 



Digitalis is much used in horse practice, especially in 

 bronchitis. Opium is an arterial stimulant, and is there- 

 fore (as a general rule) inappropriate in the early stages of 

 an active inflammation. Opium first excites and then op- 

 presses the brain, in a word produces determination of 

 blood to the head, and is therefore contraindicuted by an 

 already existing tendency to cerebral congestion. Besides 

 these, opium constipates the bowels ; this fact is of less im- 

 portance than either of the two preceding, as the constipa- 

 tively tendency can be counteracted, if desirable, by other 

 medicines, while in other cases it aids in the treatment as 

 in dysentery. 



In peritonitis, where the extent and visceral connexions of 

 the tissue affected induce more rapid prostration, as well as 

 more serious nervous irritation than in other inflammations, 

 opium has become the main dependence with very many 

 practitioners, even from the beginning of the attack. 



Counter Irritation is a measure of treatment often of 

 great service, especially in the later stages of inflammation 



