‘118 DADD’S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 
equilibrium in the circulation of the blood is secured, then con 
gestion ceases to exist. 
I would caution my readers not to place too much reliance in 
art and medicine for the cure of disease. The physician does 
much good when he practices rationally—constitutes himself the 
servant of Nature, does her bidding, and does the system no harm 
jin the use of poisons and meddlesome medication, In tue treat- 
ment of many forms of curable disease it is often 1 question cf 
time; they will “have their run.” Hence, what we most need 
is patience, great faith in Nature, and a moderate degree of faith 
in drugs. The great trouble is, our instruction derived from text- 
books and veterinary institutions of learning tends to develop 
heroic notions of medicine and its powers, and to depress those 
more potent remedies, the vitalizing and reanimating forces of 
Nature. A case of heroism of this kind, as an example, I must 
now relate, in order to illustrate my position: 
Mr. S——, of Chicago, bought of Mr. P. a fine, promising 
young gelding, aged about eight years. The purchaser had used 
him during a period of five weeks with perfect satisfaction. Sud- 
denly the newly-purchased animal became sick, and the servicea 
of a noted blacksmith were secured. The man of“ tongs and ham- 
mer,” realizing that the patient was the subject of the prevailing 
influenza, gave the patient “fits,” in the form of the administra- 
tion of a physic ball. He then abstracted two gallons of blood. 
The horse grew no better very rast. In consequence, he got more 
medicine. Purgation set in, which continued for twenty-four 
hours, when the horse died. The lives of many valuable animals 
are thus sacrificed. Finally, those men generally become the most 
distinguished who socnest emancipate themselves from the theorv 
of the heroic schools cf medicine. 
The plan of treatment here recommended may appear to some 
of our readers as very simple. That is just what we claim for it. 
Tt is the simplicity or the practice which makes it really valuable, 
because such a system harmonizes with the law of Nature, and doea 
not oppose her forces, which are always operating rhysiologically 
for the restoration of the sick and infirm; and it is our business, 
as rational physicians, to aid Nature in all possible ways. This 
ie the kind of knowledge that we require—how to aid Nature, or 
give her the reyuired assistance; and, in view of obtaining that 
information. we must read the great book of Nature, as its leaves 
