BLEEDING— FIRING. 437 



long as this is continued a full stream will run until faintness 

 occurs. After sufficient blood has been taken, the two lips of the 

 wound are raised between the fingers, and a small common pin 

 passed through both, when the point is cut off and some tow is 

 twisted round, by which the edges are kept together and the pin 

 is retained in position. In a couple of days the pin may be with- 

 drawn without disturbing the tow, and the wound will heal with 

 little or no deformity. Sometimes the blood continues to flow 

 beneath the skin after it is pinned, and a swelling takes place in 

 consequence, which is called ecchymosis. When this happens, 

 cold water should be freely applied and the head kept up by rack- 

 ing to the manger. 



The quantity of blood necessary to be taken will vary accord- 

 ing to circumstances, and can scarcely be fixed from the appearance 

 of the blood drawn, but a repetition of the operation may be de- 

 cided on if the clot of the blood, after standing, is very concave 

 at the top (cupped), or if it is very yellow (buffed), and especially 

 if both these signs are present. In inflammation of a severe char- 

 acter less than six quarts of blood will seldom lower the pulse 

 sufficiently to be of much service, and sometimes seven or eight 

 quarts even must be taken from a large plethoric animal. 



Inflammation of the vein will sometimes supervene upon 

 bleeding, the symptoms being a slight swelling appearing in the 

 evening, or the next day, with a little oozing from the wound. 

 These are soon followed by a hard cord-like enlargement of the 

 vein, which feels hot to the touch, and the parts at the angle of 

 the jaw swell considerably. The consequence generally is that the 

 vein is obliterated, occasioning some disturbance to the circulation, 

 especially when the head is held down, as it is at grass. The 

 treatment consists in cold applications as long as there is heat, the 

 lotion recommended at page 316 being generally useful. When 

 the heat has subsided, and the vein remains enlarged, the binio- 

 dide of mercury will procure the absorption of the new deposit, by 

 rubbing it in as recommended at page 300.* 



FIRING. 



The purpose for which the heated iron is employed is twofold ; 

 first, to produce immediate counter-irritation, by which the pre- 

 vious inflammation is reduced; and secondly, to cause the forma- 

 tion of a tight compress over the part, which lasts for some months. 

 It is the fashion to deny the existence of the latter effect of this 

 operation ; but every practical man must be aware that it follows 



* Bleeding in veterinary practice is by no means so general as formerly, 

 the substitution of pure air, cold water and aconite, except in diseases of 

 the head, proving very satisfactory. — Editor. 

 37* 



