THEJB PATHOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT. 11 



divides and branches off. An expert operator would raise the vein 

 by pressure with his finger ; but it is a common practice to do so by 

 tieirjg a string round the neck, the fleam must be placed on the 

 vein longitudinally, the hair having been previously wetted and smcothed 

 down so as to show it properly. It must then receive a stroke with the 

 blood stick sufficient to cause it to cut through the skin and outer side 

 of the vein ; if the blow is too strong there is danger of cutting through 

 the opposite side of the vein. The orifice should be sufficiently large to 

 allow of a free and quick flow of blood. The vessel to receive the blood, 

 and which should be properly marked, so that the quantity taken may 

 be accurately known, must be pressed gently against the neck, and 

 when the desired quantity has been taken it must be gently removed ; 

 and then the operator, taking hold of the lips of the wound with his 

 finger and thumb, places them together and secures them in that position 

 by passing a small pin through them by a very slight hold ; the point of 

 the pin is then nipped off and a little tow lightly twisted round it to 

 secure it in its position. It is advisable to tie up the horse's head for a 

 time. In the course of a few days the pin may be withdrawn. If the 

 operation throughout is not skilfully performed there is a danger of the 

 blood flowing beneath the skin and causing inflammation of the vein. 

 This is known by heat and swelling of the part, which should be met 

 by the application of the cooling lotion given at page 9. If not 

 attended to it extends along the vein, the swelling increasing, and hard 

 lumps arising, which will require the repeated use of blisters, one or two 

 fever balls (p, 23) to be given, and the horse kept to light diet of mashe3, 

 &c. Should such untoward circumstances arise, the biniodide of mercury 

 blister (p. 24) will be the most suitable application. 



Bleeding is also practised from the thigh vein, frequently so for supposed 

 shoulder lameness that does not exist. Farmers bleed from the palate 

 for gripes and megrims ; and, without a correct knowledge of the 

 position of the veins, the practice is an unsafe one. In ophthalmia 

 blood is taken from the vein just below the eye ; and bleeding from the 

 toe and coronet is practised for the relief of various affections and in- 

 juries to the feet and leg3. In the latter cases it is often advisable to 

 place the foot in a bucket of warm water to encourage the bleeding. No 

 horse should be bled when suffering from abscess or unhealchy ulcers, 

 a3 it tends to promote the absorption of the fluids and poison the 

 blood. The quantity of blood to be taken from a horse must of course be 

 regulated by circumstances, the strength and condition of the horse, and 

 the degree of inflammation to be subdued. In some cases six quarts or 

 more may be taken. 



Blisters. — Blisters are used as counter-irritants in cases of internal 

 inflammation and injury, with the view of setting up external inflammation, 

 which is found to have the effect of relieving the internal parts that 

 are suffering. After their application the skin or outer cuticle rises up 

 in blots or blisters, filled with a watery substance— hence the name. 



