266 GENERAL THERAPEUTICS FOR VETERINARIANS 



when applied locally or generally and therefore operates as an 

 antipyretic in conditions of abnonnally high temperature. Cold 

 and hot water act as cutaneous irritants, producing at first a con- 

 traction of the cutaneous vessels and of the smooth muscle of the 

 skin with a consequent anaemia, followed by a pronounced reactive 

 relaxation of the vessels of the skin and of the underlying parts 

 with a decided hypersemia of the same. On this account, cold 

 water is to be regarded as an epispastic rubefacient which not only 

 influences and changes the local circulatory relations of the skin 

 and the tissues beneath it (subcutis, tendons, tendon sheaths, 

 muscles, articulations, bones) but also, when used extensively, 

 affects the blood distribution of the entire body, causing the blood 

 to flow from the centre of the body to the periphery and depleting 

 the internal organs. While cold water produces a passive hyper- 

 emia, hot water, and moderately warm water when the application 

 is long continued (cataplasms), generate an active hypersemia. 

 These actions upon the skin point to numerous indications for the 

 treatment of local diseases of the skin, the subcutis, the mus- 

 culature, tendons, bones and articulations as well as general febrile 

 and internal diseases. Furthermore, the hypersemia produced 

 considerably stimulates the secretory activity of the skin (water, 

 urea and metabolic products), sometimes even to the extent of pro- 

 ducing perspiration. Since a relation exists between the secretory 

 functions of the skin and different internal organs, especially the 

 kidneys and lungs, a therapeutic action may be exerted upon these 

 organs by the use of water. Depending upon the temperature, 

 water exerts a stimulant action upon nerves or exerts a sedative 

 effect in abnormal, painful conditions. 



Of great practical importance in all these cases, in addition to 

 the temperature of the water, is the continuance of its action and a 

 change from cold to warm. In reference to the temperature, a 

 distinction must be made between cold (0-15° C), tepid (15- 

 30° C), warm (30-38° C.) and hot (38° C. and above). Only cold 

 and hot water exert a pronounced action as cutaneous irritants 

 in the manner described above. Warm water corresponding in 



