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them. If the weather be not too cold, and if the animal is in a com- 

 fortable stable, the following method may be tried: Have a tub of hot 

 water handy to the stable door; soak a woolen blanket in the water, 

 then quickly wring as much water as possible out of it and wrap it 

 around the chest. See that it fits closely to the skin; do not allow it 

 to sag down so that air maj' get between it and the skin. Now wraj) 

 a dry blanket over the wet hot one. The hot blanket should be 

 renewed evevy half hour, and while it is off being wetted and wrung, 

 the dry one should remain over the wet part of the chest to prevent 

 reaction. The hot applications should be kept up for three or four 

 hours, and when stopped, the skin should be quickly rubbed as dry 

 as possible, an application of liniment rubbed over the wet j)art, and 

 a dr}' blanket snuglj' fitted over the animal; and especial care should 

 be taken to cover with it the wet i^art of the skin. If the hot appli- 

 cations appear to benefit, they may be tried on three or four consecu- 

 tive days. Unless every facility and circumstance favors the applica- 

 tion of heat in the foregoing manner do not attemiit it. If the weather 

 is very cold, or any of the details are omitted, more harm than good 

 may result. In the majority of cases, warm clothing to the body, 

 bandages to the legs, and the liniment applied to legs and chest Avill 

 suffice. 



It is xjossible that cases occur that may be slightly benefited by 

 bleeding, but the non-exj)ert is certainly unable to discriminate in 

 such instances, and therefore blood-letting should never be practiced. 

 Indeed, many veterinary i)ractitioners of great experience wholly con- 

 demn the practice of bleeding in pneumonia as positively hurtful. 

 "When pneumonia follows another disease the system is always more 

 or less debilitated, and requires the careful use of stimulants from the 

 beginning; to still further weaken the animal by tapping him (if the 

 expression may be used), and letting escape in a stream the very 

 source of remaining strength, is one of the most effectual methods of 

 retarding recovery, even if it does not hasten a fatal termination. 



Another and oftentimes a fatal mistake made by the non-j)rofes- 

 sional is the indiscriminate and reckless use of aconite. This drug is 

 one of the most active poisons, and should not be handled b}' anyone 

 who does not thoroughly understand its action and uses. It is only 

 less active than prussic acid in its i)oisonous effects. It is a common 

 opinion, often expressed hy non-jDrofessionals, that aconite is a stimu- 

 lant; nothing could be more erroneous. In fact, it is just the reverse; 

 it is one of the most powerful sedatives used in the iDractice of medi- 

 cine. In fatal doses it kills bj^ paralyzing the A'crj- muscles used in 

 breathing; it weakens the action of the heart, and should not be used 

 in anj'- but strong or sthenic tj'pes of inflammation, and then only by 

 the expert. After an extensive experience in the treatment of pneu- 

 monia in various sections, from the cold northern regions of Canadca 

 to the temperate climate of Virginia and North Carolina, the writer 



