CHAP. II.] REDUNDANT AND DEFECTIVE. 75 



until the fluid, at some part or other, is exhausted ; 

 a circumstance that strongly bespeaks the pro- 

 priety of allowing the worn-up poor creature more 

 frequent supplies of water, although this be done 

 in smaller quantities. Inflammation, or fever, 

 which is occasioned by suddenly checking the se- 

 cretion, eventually exhausts this moisture by its 

 great heat. Both these disorders are, therefore, re- 

 ferred in the sequel to the same origin ; the first 

 being local, or pertaining to some particular organ 

 or part, whilst fever pervades the whole system, 

 and the solids in particular. The total absence of 

 perspirable matter marks both diseases. 



On the other hand, when too much of this fluid 

 is secreted, and remains unabsorbed, other diseases 

 ensue: upon the heart it forms " dropsy of the heart- 

 bag;" on the covering of the lungs it becomes 

 " dropsy of the chest ;" in the membrane of the 

 belly it forms {ascites,) or dropsy of that part, and 

 usually falls into the scrotum. The powers of 

 medicine have hitherto proved of no avail in the 

 first description of ailments ; and are but partially 

 applicable to the last mentioned : the operation of 

 tapping too frequently disappoints our hopes, to 

 induce us to rely upon it as any other than a tem- 

 porary relief, and it is, therefore, seldom or ever 

 applied to the horse. Thus, in whichever way we 

 view this important secretion, its eminence must 

 strike us as quite equal to any other. Whenever 

 obstruction in this part of the system takes place in 

 the horse, the consequent adhesion of the parts 



e 2 



