250 Veferi7iary Medicine. 



or soothing derivative compress are still demanded though they 

 may be substituted by more stimulating derivatives. The bleed- 

 ing of the patient into his own vessels is sought in various ways. 

 On the continent of Europe stimulating embrocations (essential 

 oils, ammonia and oil, mustard, etc.) are applied to the limbs. 

 In America and England similar agents are more commonly ap- 

 plied to the walls of the chest and dry cupping in the same region 

 has been resorted to. Metallic cups with small mouths and having 

 a capacity of about a pint each, have the air rarefied by plunging 

 into each a spirit lamp, and, on its withdrawal, suddenly applying 

 the mouth of the cup on the skin of the co.stal region previously 

 well coated with lard. Another form of cup is made with a tube 

 and stopcock in its otherwise blind end by means of which it is 

 exhausted with a syringe after its mouth has been applied to the 

 skin. In the abseiace of both a narrow mouthed glass tumbler 

 may be employed, the air is ratified by inserting. into it a burning 

 spill of paper or wood for a few seconds and on its withdrawal the 

 cup is instantly inverted on the ."jkin. If the animal is very hairy 

 or very thin it may be necessary to shave the part, and smear 

 with oil and even to select a very narrow mouthed cup. When 

 applied the cup is cooled with water or otherwise and owing to 

 the partial vacuum the skin is strongly drawn up into it and the 

 blood accumulates in and under the skin. It may be kept on for 

 half an hour at a time and with ten or twelve cups on one side 

 the patient tends to profuse perspiration establishing a strong re- 

 vulsion toward the' skin, and great relief. In dangerous cases 

 three or four applications may be required in twenty-four hours. 



Next to this the mustard application is perhaps the safest and 

 most valuable. The best ground mustard (black by preference) 

 is made into a very thin pulp with tepid or cold (never hot nor boil- 

 ing) water and rubbed in against the hair so as to soak the surface 

 of the skin ; it is then closely covered with paper and with a rub- 

 ber or other impervious covering or, in default of better, with a 

 close blanket and left on for two hours. By this time the skin 

 should be thickened to the extent of at least a quarter of an inch 

 and the derivation and relief will be very manifest. 



Cantharides is sometimes used but like most other severe irri- 

 tants, is liable to induce sympathetic irritation in an already se- 

 verely inflamed pleura, and thus to obviate all benefit. Canthar- 

 ides is also liable through extensive absorption to irritate the kid - 



