'222 COMPENDfUM OF THE VETERINARY ART. 



qiiently the horse must have a fever; that 

 . it is too dark coloured, and therefore foul; oi 

 that it is too thick, and consequently unfit for 

 circulation ; and sometimes it is said to be full of 

 humours. AVith respect to rhe/ieat of the blood, 

 it will be sufficient to observe, that it preserves 

 Tieai-l3' the same temperature while circulating 

 in the body, whether the animal be an inhabit- 

 ant of the most sultry or of the coldest coun- 

 try, whether in health or in the his^hest fever. 

 As to the colour of the blood while flowincr 

 from the body, it may be either red or of u 

 dark colour, as the operator pleases ; since by 

 pressing on the vein, for a short time before the 

 orifice is made, it may always be made to ap'- 

 pear of a dark colour. If an artery be opened, 

 rne blood which flows from it will be of a. 

 bright scarlet colour. The opinion that blood 

 sometimes becomes thick or viscid in the body 

 u'as supported by many respectable philoso- 

 phers, but is now universally abandoned, be- 

 cause it has been proved to be erroneous. 



1 think it a bad pitictice to bleed horses fre- 

 quently when there is no urgent occasion, as 

 they thereby acquire a plethoric habit; and 

 unless the operation be regularly performed 

 and gradually increased in frequency, trouble- 



