484 



quantities of easily digested food will often cure serious inflammatory 

 troubles without further treatment. 



(r) Cold.— The application of ice bags or cold water by bandages, 

 douching with a hose, or irrigation with dripping water, contracts 

 the blood vessels, acts as a sedative to the nerves and lessens the 

 vitality of a part; it consequently prevents the tissue change which 

 inflammation produces. 



{(]) Heat. — Either dry or moist heat acts as a derivative. It quickens 

 the circulation and renders the chemical changes more active in the 

 surrounding parts; it softens the tissues and attracts the current of 

 blood from the inflamed organ; it also promotes the absorption of the 

 effusion and hastens the elimination of the waste products in the part. 

 Heat maybe applied by hand rubbing or active friction and the appli- 

 cation of warm coverings (bandages), or by cloths wrung out of warm 

 water, or steaming with warm moist vapor, medicated or not, Avill 

 answer the same purpose. The latter is especially applicable to 

 inflammatory troubles in the air passages. 



(t) Local hleedmg. — This treatment frequently affords immedicite 

 relief by carrying off the excessive blood and draining the effusion 

 which has already occurred. It affords direct mechanical relief, and, 

 by a stimulation of the part, promotes the chemical changes necessary 

 for bringing the diseased tissues to a healthy condition. Local blood- 

 letting can be done by scarifying, or making small punctures into the 

 inflamed part, as in the eyelid of an inflamed eye, or into the sheath 

 of the penis, or into the skin of the latter organ when congested, or 

 the leg when acutely swelled. This treatment, however, is frequently 

 very advantageous in the toe of the foot in acute founder; leeches, 

 cups, etc., are rarely applicable in veterinary practice. 



Counter irritants are used for deep inflammations. They act by 

 bringing the blood to the surface and consequently lessening the blood 

 pressure within. The derivation of the blood to the exterior dimin- 

 ishes the amount in the internal organs and is often almost mirac- 

 ulous in its action in relieving a congested lung or liver. The most 

 common counter irritant is mustard flour. It is applied as a soft 

 paste mixed with warm water to the under surface of the belly and 

 to the sides where the skin is comparatively soft and vascular. Colds 

 in the throat or inflammations at any point demand the treatment 

 applied in the same manner to the belly and sides and not to the 

 throat or on the legs, as so often used. Blisters, iodine, and many 

 other irritants are used in the same way. 



Constitutional treatment in inflammation is designed to reduce the 

 current of blood, which is the fuel for the inflammation in the dis- 

 eased part, to quiet the patient and to combat the fever or general 

 effects of the trouble in the system. It consists of : 



Reduction of bZoocZ.— This is obtained in various ways. The diminu- 

 tion of the quantity of blood lessens the amount of pressure on the 



