INFLAMMATION OF VEINS. 117 



health. Our interference will therefore be limited, as a rule, to 

 treating the part antiseptically (p. 67) as an ordinary wound. 

 Tannoform or iodoform may be freely dusted over the part, which 

 may be stimulated, if necessary, by the application of a little 

 turpentine or phenicated camphor (p. 69). 



Inflammation of Veins (Phlebitis). 



The only form of inflammation of veins I shall here consider, 

 is that to which the jugular vein is liable from the operation of 

 bleeding. 



CAUSES. — The chief causes which induce inflammation in that 

 portion of the jugular vein which has been wounded during bleeding 

 (p. 638) are as follows : — (1) Injury by a blow given with the blood- 

 stick. (2) Laceration or tearing (instead of clean cutting) of the 

 wound, as might happen from the use of a blunt instrument. (3) 

 The fact of more wounds than one being made in the part. (4) 

 Failure to make the wound in the direction of the vein, i.e., longi- 

 tudinally (Moller). (5) The introduction, into the wound, of de- 

 composing matter, which, when this takes place, is generally ob- 

 tained from the blade of the instrument ; but may also be commu- 

 nicated by unhealthy surroundings. (6) Undue irritation, sufficient 

 to set up suppuration, as happens, for instance, when the part gets 

 rubbed by the animal, soon after the operation. (7) Failure in 

 bringing the edges of the wound correctly together. (8) A bad con- 

 dition of the animal's system, which will prevent the wound readily 

 healing. 



I believe that an ill-aimed blow with the blood-stick is the not 

 unfrequent cause of inflammation, which follows bleeding with 

 a fleam far oftener, than bleeding with a lancet. 



NATUR^\ — As long as the walls of the blood-vessels are in a healthy 

 condition, the blood which circulates in these vessels exhibits no disposition 

 to coagulate (p. 12) ; but if the walls become diseased or hurt, a clot of greater 

 or less size will form at the seat of injury inside the vessel. The formation 

 of pus, which is a diseased product, in a part bathed by blood, also excites 

 coagulation of that fluid. As it is almost impossible to obtain under strict 

 antiseptic conditions, healing of the wound made in the operation of bleeding ; 

 a clot is probably deposited in every instance. If the wound heals in an 

 ordinary healthy manner, the clot, which will then be of a comparatively 

 small size, will become absorbed, and the circulation of the part will be 

 restored. In olden days, when it was a routine practice to bleed both men 

 and horses at least once a year, the repeatedly operated-upon vein kept, in 

 many cases, its circulation unimpaired up to the time of death. The state of 

 the health will, as in all other wounds, greatly influence the manner of 

 healing. A blow or severe pressure on the outside of the vein, even without 

 the skin being broken, may cause a clot by injuiy to the walls of the vessel. 

 If. from the intensity of the injurj' or diseased action, the stoppage in the vein 



