249 



Treatment. — Phlebitis should be treated by the application of a 

 smart blister along the course of the inflamed vessel; early opening 

 of any abscesses which may form; tlie animal should have complete 

 rest, and the bowels be kept loose with bran mashes. When the fever 

 runs high, half-ounce doses of nitrate of potassa may be given in the 

 drinking water, which may be changed in two or three days for dram 

 doses of the iodide of iwtassa. If the animal becomes debilitated, 

 carbonate of ammonia, 1 dram, and powdered gentian, 3 drams, may 

 bo given ever}- six hours. 



VARICOSE VEINS — VARIX — DILATION OF VEINS. 



This may be a result of weakening of the coats from inflanimatorj^ 

 disease and degeneration. It may also be due to mechanical obstruc- 

 tion from internal or external sources. It is sometimes found in the 

 vein which lies sux)erficial over the inside of the hock- joint, and may 

 be due to the pressure of a spavin. Occasionally it may be observed 

 in stallions, which are more or less subject to varicocele or dilatation 

 of the veins of the testicular cord. Hemorrhoidal veins or piles are 

 occasionally met with, generally in horses which run at pasture. 

 Varicose veins ma}' ulcerate and form an abscess in the surrounding 

 tissues, or they may rujiture from internal blood pressure and the 

 blood form large tumors where the tissues are soft. 



Treatment. — Stallions which manifest a tendency' to varicocele 

 should wear suspensory bags when thej' are exercised. Piles may 

 often be reduced by astringent washes — tea made from white oak 

 bark or a saturated solution of alum. The bowels should be kept 

 loose with bran mashes and the animal kept quiet in the stable. 

 When varicose veins exist suijerficially and threaten to produce 

 inconvenience, they may be ligated above and below and thus oblit- 

 erated. Sometimes absorption may be induced by constant bandages. 



AIR IN VEINS — AIR EMBOLISM. 



It was formerly supposed that the entrance of air into a vein at the 

 time of the infliction of a Avound or in blood-letting was extremely 

 dangerous and very often produced sudden death by interfering with 

 the circulation of the blood through the heart and lungs. Danger 

 from air embolism is exceedingly doubtful, unless great quantities 

 were forced into a large vein by artificial means. 



PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA. 



Purpura hemorrhagica usually occurs as a sequel to debilitating 

 diseases, such as strangles, influenza, etc. It may, however, arise in 

 the absence of any previous disease in badlj^ ventilated stables, among 

 poorly fed horses, and in animals subject to exhausting work and 

 extreme temperatures. It is apparently due to a primary deteriora- 

 tion of the blood, weakness of the capillary vessels, and general 



