52 VETERINARY 



from arteries near the heart, and which lie deep. 

 In a vein the circulation is slower ; and as veins 

 lie more superficially, bleeding is more easily 

 stopped. L; ;drng may take j.iace either from 

 a total or partial division oi the coats of an ar- 

 tery, or from a diseased alteration of their struc- 

 ture. 



Bleeding may terminate by accidental, or by 

 artificial means ; or, if it is suffered to continue 

 for a length of time, in death. When arteries are 

 divided, if they are not large, bleeding soon 

 ceases. This arises from the muscular fibres 

 which enter their structure, contracting their dia- 

 meters and lengths, so as to obliterate their cavi- 

 ties ; the contractile power of them being greater 

 than the impetus of the blood. 



In the division of the larger arteries, where the 

 powers of the circulation, and the elasticity of the 

 vefsels are greater than their powers of contrac- 

 tion, we must not trust to it alone. It may some- 

 times stop the bleeding for a little time, but we 

 may expect a return of it. 



Blood may be stopped, from the accidental 

 manner in which the vefsels may be divided, as by 

 violent laceration, and other causes. 



