INFLAMMATION OF VEINS. 117 



to the vessels. Henoe, the worst possible treatment of the part, 

 would be to immerse it in warm water, or expose it to the influence 

 of a tire. Efforts in stimulating the return of the blood should be 

 limited to friction with a lump of snow, or with a pad of cloth or 

 straw dipped in cold water. As the horse cannot give an account 

 of his feelings, and his skin is thick, covered with hair, and gener- 

 ally full of pigment; it is hardly ever possible to apply remedies 

 for frost-bite in sufficient time to aid in the restoration of the part 

 to health. Interference will therefore be limited, as a rule, to 

 treating the part antiseptioally (p. 67) as an ordinary wound. 

 Tannoform or iodoform may be freely dusted over the part, which 

 may be stimulated, if necessary, by the application of a little 

 turpentine or phenicated camphor (p. 69). 



Inflammation of Veins {^Phlebitis). 



The only form of inflammation of veins here considered, is that 

 to which the jugular vein is liable from the operation of bleeding. 



CAUSES. — The chief causes of inflammation in that portion of 

 the jugular vein which has been wounded during bleeding (p. 649) 

 are as follows: — (1) Injury by a blow given with the blood-stick. 

 (2) Laceration or tearing (instead of clean cutting) of the wound, 

 as might happen from the use of a blunt instrument. (3) The fact 

 of more wounds than one being made in the part. (4) Failure to 

 make the wound in the direction of the vein, i.e., longitudinally. 

 (5) The introduction, into the wound, of decomposing matter, 

 which, when this takes place, is generally obtained from the blade 

 of the instrument; but may also be communicated by imhealthy 

 surroundings. '(6) Undue irritation, sufficient to set up suppura- 

 tion, as happens, for instance, when the part gets rubbed by the 

 animal, soon after the operation. (7) Failure in bringing the 

 edges of the wound correctly together. (8) A bad condition of the 

 animal's system, which will prevent the wound readily healing. 



An ill-aimed blow with the blood-stick is the not infrequent 

 cause of inflammation, which follows bleeding with a fleam far 

 oftener, than- bleeding with a lancet. 



NATXJRE. — ^As long as the walls of the blood-vessels are in a healthy 

 condition, the blood which circulates in these vessels exhibits no disposition 

 to coagulate (p. 12); but if the walls become diseased or hurt, a clot of 

 greater or less size will form at the seat of injury inside the vessel. The 

 formation of pus, which is a diseased product, in a part bathed by blood, 

 ' also excites coagulation of that fluid. As it is almost impossible to obtain 

 under strict antiseptic conditions, healing of the wound made in the 

 operation of bleeding ; a clot is probably deposited in every instance. It 

 the. wound heals in an ordinary healthy manner, the clot, which will then 

 be of a comparatively small size, will become absorbed, and the circulation 



