BLEEDING. 23 



With this treatment, the horse will frequently be fit 

 for work in about a month or two, although the vein 

 will generally be lost ; yet the swelling will subside, 

 the blood find new channels, and little after-inconve- 

 niences will ultimately be experienced. The horse, 

 however, that has lost a vein, will not be suited for 

 fast work until twelve months have expired. Slow- 

 work he may perform, but the collar should be dis- 

 carded for a breast strap, and the horse must on no 

 account be turned out to grass. 



When there is much mange about the neck, there 

 is always considerable hazard in bleeding from the 

 jugular. The skin is already in an irritable, if not 

 inflamed state : this is much increased by the wound 

 inflicted by the lancet; and troublesome swellings, 

 sinuses, and sloughing often ensue. Fortunately, 

 however, bleeding is never imperative in this disease. 



If the practitioner should fail to open the vein at 

 the first attempt, it will be better to bring the second 

 thrust exactly above the orifice he has made, and to 

 strike again more gently upon it, than to make a fresh 

 wound; but, if it is necessary to have recourse to 

 bleeding three or four hours after the first operation, 

 the old wound should not be re-opened, but a new 

 incision always made. 



In cases of local inflammation, the bleeding should 

 take place as near as possible to the diseased spot. 

 It will be easily comprehended that by acting upon 

 the immediate part we gain all the good effects of 

 general bleeding at a much less loss to the animal 

 system. This object may be accomplished in several 

 ways. Punctures or incisions may be made, and 



