324 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



the divided integuments and membranes. A dirty or rusty 

 fleam has been known to produce it. 



The Symptoms of the injury appear about the third or 

 fourth day usually, when the lips of the cut begin to gape, 

 and a little lymph is thrown out ; the next day the edges 

 are more cast back, as well as more red and expanded. A 

 sanious discharge issues, or perhaps haemorrhage occurs. 

 The tumefied vein now feels corded, hot, and tender ; and 

 if the progress of the inflammation be not stopped, the 

 tumefaction extends along the course of the vein. If in 

 the jugular, it proceeds towards the head; and if it occur 

 in any of the other veins of the body, as the saphena and 

 plate vein, it extends towards the heart, hardening the 

 vessel into a cord-like substance. This appears to be the 

 consequence of the inflammatory action, by forming the 

 contained blood of the venous trunk into a firm coagulum, 

 and therefore all attempts to save it afterwards fail. Sup- 

 puration of the tumour now often appears, though some- 

 times the punctured part itself will present little more 

 than a spongy mass, from which a grumous liquid distils, 

 while abscesses form in various situations around the 

 course of the vessel. As the morbid action extends 

 upwards, it frequently involves the whole neck, and 

 often affects the side of the head, from which results 

 hindrance to motion ; and often some difficulty is experi- 

 enced in eating and drinking. There is commonly consti- 

 tutional disturbance. In some cases the symptomatic fever 

 runs very high. The pulse has been above ninety, and the 

 excess of irritability brought on has destroyed life. 



Treatment — The course to be pursued will depend on 

 the state of the disease. It is of importance to keep the 

 horse as quiet as possible, and to restrain the neck from 

 movement, which latter is best efl^ected by tying up the 

 head, and giving him gruel for food. It is also recom- 

 mended to apply a mild blister in the course of the 

 tumefied vein, which seems to assist by lessening the 

 general inflammation ; this, in fact, is an indication never 

 to be lost sight of. 



PLETHORA AND ANiEMIA. 



Plethora, or richness of blood, is a condition premonitory 

 of disease ; poverty of blood, also, may give rise to its 



