INFLAMMATION OF THE VEIN. 2ia 



THE VEINS OF THE NECK. 

 The external veins which return the blood from the head to the heart are 

 the jugulars. The horse has but one on either side. The human being and 

 the ox have two. The jugular takes its rise from the base of the skull ; it then 

 descends, receiving other branches in its way towards the angle of the jaw and 

 behind the parotid gland ; and emerging from that, as seen at t, p. 173, and 

 being united to a large branch from the face, it takes its course down the neck. 

 Veterinary surgeons and horsemen have agreed to adopt the jugular a little 

 way below the union of these two branches, as the usual place for bleeding; 

 and a very convenient one it is, for it is easily got at, and the vessel is large! 

 The manner of bleeding, and the states of constitution and disease in which it 

 is proper, will be hereafter spoken of ; an occasional consequence of bleeding 

 being at present taken under consideration. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE VEIN. 



It is usual and proper, after bleeding, to bring the edges of the wound care- 

 fully together, and to hold them in contact by inserting a pin through the skin, 

 with a little tow twisted round it. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred tho 

 wound quickly heals, and gives no trouble ; but in a few instances, from using 

 a blunt instrument, or a dirty or rusty one ; or striking too hard and bruising 

 the vein ; or, in the act of pinning up, pulling the skin too far from the neck 

 and suffering some blood to insinuate itself into the cellular texture ; or neglect- 

 ing to tie the horse up for a little while, and thus enabling him to rub the 

 bleeding place against the manger and tear out the pin ; or from the animal 

 being worked immediately afterward ; or the reins of the bridle rubbing against 

 it ; or several blows having been clumsily given, and a large and ragged wound 

 made; or from some disposition to inflammation about the horse (for the 

 bleeder is not always in fault) the wound does not heal, or if it closes for a 

 little while, it re-opens. A slight bleeding appears — some tumefaction com- 

 mences — the edges of the orifice separate, and become swollen and red — a 

 discharge of sanious bloody fluid proceeds from the wound, followed, perhaps, 

 in a few days by purulent matter. The neck swells, and is hot and tender 

 both above and below the incision. The lips of the wound become everted — 

 the swelling increases, particularly above the wound, where the vein is most 

 hard and cordy — the horse begins to loathe his food, and little abscesses form 

 round the orifice. The cordiness of the vein rapidly increases. Not only the 

 vein itself has become obstructed and its coats thickened, but the cellular 

 tissue inflamed and hardened, and is an additional source of irritation and 

 torture. 



The thickening of the vein extends to the bifurcation above: it occupies 

 both branches, and extends downwards to the chest — even to the very heart 

 itself, and the patient dies. 



The two grand questions here are, the cause and the cure. The first would 

 seem to admit of an easy reply. A long list of circumstances has been just 

 given which would seem to refer the matter entirely to the operator ; yet, on 

 the other hand, experience tells us that he has little to do with these morbid 

 effects of bleeding. Mr. Percivall states, that Mr. Cherry tried several times 

 to produce inflammation by the use of rusty lancets, and escharotics of various 

 kinds, and ligatures, and frequent separation and friction of the granulating edges, 

 but in vain. Professor Spooner tried to produce the disease, but could not. 



On the other hand, it is well known that while inflammation rarely or never 

 follows the operation of bleeding by some practitioners, others are continually 



