INTRODUCTION. 41 



Having determined the nature of the attack under which 

 an animal is labouring, and by the various methods of 

 inquiry above noted, in so far as they are applicable to 

 the special case, having arrived at a conclusion as to the 

 part disordered, and the extent to which it has undergone 

 pathological changes, and to which its altered conditions 

 affect surrounding parts, the practitioner must next 

 determine the method of treatment to be adopted and 

 rigidly enforced with a view to restoration of health, or 

 to a condition of fitness for special duties according to the 

 nature of the patient. It has been truly remarked that 

 in many cases a veterinary surgeon has not the oppor- 

 tunity to carry his medicinal skill to its full extent since 

 his patients are almost always viewed as representing so 

 much capital, and not as being in a position to claim 

 moral protection for life so long as it exists. Again, in 

 the majority of cases the veterinary surgeon must 

 thoroughly cure his patient, and may find a ^' patched up '' 

 case which would bring his medical confrere much credit, 

 is apt to prove even prejudicial to him. Such being the 

 case, it can hardly be a matter of wonder that the study 

 of the treatment of such animals as our bovine patients 

 has not been pursued with such energy as certain other 

 branches of therapeutics. The animal if slaughtered at 

 once will prove useful for food, if kept alive will probably 

 have its system impregnated with medicinal agents, and 

 at the same time will rapidly decline from " market con- 

 dition.^^ The veterinary surgeon's bill and the keep of the 

 animal until it is again fit for its special duties will 

 mount up very considerably, so the owner is too often 

 tempted to send the patient immediately to the butcher. 

 Promptness is most essential, then, in the treatment of 

 our patients, both in prognosis and in administration of 

 remedies. In all cases we must remember the grand rule 

 " reniove the cause and the effect will cease," and must 

 not only remove the immediate cause, but any other 

 influences which are tending to bring about increase of 

 the disorder. We must thoroughly trace out the value of 

 each pathological condition in relation to other morbid 



