44 MATERIA MEDICA. 



the purpose of receiving the bioocl ; every 

 pint being marked on the inside of the ves- 

 sel, so that the quantity of blood that is 

 taken oflP-may be exactly known. The blood 

 should always be preserved, that we may 

 judge from its appearance of the nature of 

 the disease, and whether it is proper or not 

 to repeat the operation. When it continues 

 fluid a considerable time, it denotes an in* 

 flammatory state of the system. Should a 

 whitish or light buff coloured jelly appear 

 on its surface after it has coagulated or set- 

 tled, and should this jelly be of consider- 

 able thickness, rather firm, not easily pene- 

 trated by the finger, we may be satisfied that 

 the horse's complaint is inflammatory ; that 

 bleeding was a proper remedy ; and that, if 

 the symptoms continue, the operation may 

 be repeated with advantage: but if the blood 

 coagulates quickly, is uniformly of a dark 

 liver colour, loose and easily broken, with a 

 considersble quantity of water upon its sur- 

 face, it denotes debility, and shews that the 

 disease arises from a weakness of the sys- 

 tem ; that instead of bleeding, tonic and cor» 

 dial medicines are to be employed, with 

 every thing that may tend to restore the ani- 

 maPs strength. 



