254 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



character. At times, however, it appears in altogether a 

 mild, or sluggish, or indolent Ibrm, taking then the epithet 

 of chronic. 



It too often happens in veterinary practice that, in conse- 

 quence of but trifling illness or lameness being manifested 

 by the animal, his master does not imagine it worth while 

 to call in medical aid. The consequence is, that mischief is 

 present, and by the time the " vet." is consulted, is out of 

 the range and power of medicine altogether. 



Treatment. — In the treatment of inflammation, obtain 

 the clearest insight possible into its seat, its kind, its 

 causes, and its present and probable effects, both as regards 

 the part immediately affected and the constitution at 

 large. 



The degree and kind of inflammation must be taken into 

 account in the treatment. The more active or acute the 

 one, the more prompt and bold should be the other; though, 

 where inflammation is of what is called a specific kind, 

 experience teaches us that we do but little good in our 

 treatment unless we can meet the case with specific 

 remedies, such as are found peculiarly adapted for such 

 anomalies. In specific ophthalmia, in mange, in farcy, and 

 in glanders, we bleed and purge with but little comparative 

 benefit. To be of real service to our patient we must have 

 recourse to something in the shape of a specific remedy. 



The first thing to be done in the treatment of inflam- 

 mation is to remove the cause, supposing it to be still 

 operating. In some cases, such as that of a hay-seed in a 

 horse's e3^e, this is all that is required to be done. The 

 cause being removed, the inflammation subsides, and ceases 

 altogether. Should a horse pick up a nail in his foot, and 

 that be found penetrating the hoof, and simply v/ounding 

 the quick, its speedy extraction, with a little subsequent 

 attention to the cleanliness of the wound, will be all that is 

 commonly necessary to effect a cure. On the other hand, 

 when, from the depth of the puncture, or from the irrita- 

 bility of the animal's constitution at the time, violent 

 inflammation may ensue, the case will call for every 

 attention we can give it. 



When the eye is inflamed, the lids and the haw are drawn 

 over its surface to shield it from the light, which, though 

 under ordinary circumstances a natural and healthy stimulus, 

 now that the sensibility of the organ is augmented, becomes 



