ON HXaiENIO TEBATMENT. 109 



a great deal — is, by its action, to so influence the curative 

 power, or, in other words, so direct or control it, as to place the 

 part diseased under the most favourable conditions conducive to 

 recovery. Until veterinary surgeons acquire a correct know- 

 ledge of the real curative power in disease, and treat their 

 patients in accordance with such knowledge, it is hopeless to 

 expect a more rational system of therapeutics than what at 

 present prevails. 



The relation which hygiene holds to the vital power, is 

 too obvious to require explanation. Hygienic treatment, is 

 simply food treatment. Unless food of a proper kind, and in 

 proper quantities, be supplied to the organism, it is a fact known 

 to every one that the vital force vnll speedily cease to act. 



During the existence of acute disease, hygiene can only be 

 regarded as holding a subordinate position with respect to any 

 direct influence which it may exert upon the curative power of 

 the organism ; but when recovery becomes fairly established, or 

 where the animal is debilitated, or threatened with disease, no 

 matter from what causes, it is to all intents and purposes the 

 principal ground upon which the veterinary surgeon should 

 base his hopes of a result favourable to his patient. 



The duties comprised in, and related to, hygienic treatment, 

 may be arranged under the three following heads ; — 



I. — Dieting. 

 II. — Housing. 

 III.— Clothing the Patient. 



These will be found to include all that is necessary in this 

 department of our treatise. 



I. — Dieting the Patient. — The Dieting of a sick horse 

 is at times a matter of nicety. Two extremes in practice are 



