iy2 iTAERTERY. BTC. 



freqnentlv lojic-atoil, trnd il; cm be disperfeii wilh 'jiily al 

 cht) jisk oi seriou:! tiinjioiary illness; many who have been 

 bled wilii un necessary frec^uency piesciil the appeajaiice 

 of an apoplijctic conditicin. Thest! lesult* are supposed to 

 arise from an unnaturally vigorous action of the blood — 

 forming power, acquired in the attempt of nature to make 

 up for the loss of bleeding. The same result is observed 

 in the case of horses, and it is btslieved that they arise from 

 the same cause. 



Blood-letting is, in the hands of a " cautious physician," 

 a most valuable agent for reducing inflammation or con- 

 gestion, but in the hands of the ordinary horseman, or far- 

 rier, it is subject to great abuse and is the occasion of many 

 evils. Of course, in a case of blind staggers, or of great 

 inflammation froiu a wound or other cause, it is well that 

 the person having charge of the horse should be able Sg) 

 apply this means of relief; but for ordinary depletion of 

 the system, for bringing horses into condition, etc., it is 

 absurd to resort to bleeding. The end desired may be 

 more safely attained by administering a proper diet. 



The operation of bleeding is thus described by Youatt • 



This operation is performed with a fleam or a lancet. 

 The first is the common instrument, and the safest, except 

 in skilful hands. The lancet, however, has a more surgical 

 appearance, and v.'ill be adopted by the veterinary practi- 

 tioner. A bloodstick — a piece of hard wood loaded at one 

 end with lead — is used to strike the flesim into the vein. 

 This is sometnnes done with too great violence, and the 

 opposite side of the coat of the vein is wounded. Bad 

 cases of inflammation have resulted from this. If the fist 

 Ls doubled, and the fleam is sharp and ia strucik with suffi- 

 cient force with the lowei j art o!' the hand, I lie bkiO'islick 

 may be di-ptmscd vsitb. 



F(jr generjj bleeding tlui jugular viiin is selected. Thu 



