233 
MR. major's ADVERTISEMENT. 
Blisters are also of service where the inflammation seems to extend rather than 
subside under the action of other remedies ; many practitioners employ setons 
and apparently with benefit. But, through all give pure cool air ; this is the 
only thing which is at the same time a sedative and a stimulant ; it is the only 
thing which is equally useful in health as well as in all stages of disease. If 
water should collect in the chest to such extent as to threaten suffocation, it may 
be worth while to remove it by the operation of tapping. This, however, is often 
but a forlorn hope. It gives relief, no doubt, but that relief is often temporary. 
A case came to the Veterinary College some time ago which was tapped, and 
upwards of ten gallons of fluid were taken away. Life was apparently pro- 
longed by the operation, but the case terminated fatally. A summary of the 
treatment then may be thus expressed ; avoid everything which weakens the 
system, and especially avoid free purging and bleeding. Give plenty of cool pure 
air. Clothe the body to keep the skin warm, for in a cold skin no secretions are 
performed. Give injections to relieve the bowels, and if absolutely needed give a 
mild dose of laxative medicine. Give saline medicines in water or gruel, to com- 
pensate in some degree for the deterioration the blood undergoes, under the 
existing typhoid inflammation and exudation. Give small and often repeated 
doses of calomel and opium to act on the system generally, and indirectly on the 
seat of disease. Blister or seton the throat and sides if need require it. I have 
thus merely indicated a very general outline of treatment, because the details can 
only be carried out by those who have made health and disease the primary 
objects of their study. You may think my remedies simple ; they may be so, but 
being successful I conscientiously recommend them. I have^ known and heard 
of great fatality attendant on an opposite or reducing plan or treatment, that 
which adds evil to evil by adding weakness to weakness, therefore, against this I 
conscientiously and sincerely object. Nature will do great things when fairly 
used, she performs wonders when really aided by art and science. But to treat 
influenza on the system of “ copious bleeding,” “ free purgation,” and “ whole- 
sale blistering,” is to destroy her resources ; it is, in fact, to trifle with life and 
parley with death, and one mourns for the reputation of the healing art when this 
is called medical practice. It may be, and, alas ! too often is, a system of practice 
adopted by the routinist and empiric* but so far as influenza is concerned, it is 
not the practice adopted by the rational practitioner of a rational veterinary 
medicine. — North British Agriculturist. 
MR. MAJOR’S ADVERTISEMENT. 
To the Editor of 6 The Veterinarian? 
3, Great College Street, Camden Town ; 
27 th March, 1853. 
Dear Sir, — Excuse this late application for notice in 
‘The Veterinarian/ but I find in the papers of this day, 
namely B ell’s Life , the Era , and Sunday Times , advertisements 
from a person called Major, proposing a remedy for the 
cure of spavin, &c., in horses, introducing a testimonial 
with my signature. I have to state such testimonial is a 
forgery . I never, directly or indirectly , have had any commu- 
nication with Mr. Major; nor never, to my knowledge, until 
seven o’clock last evening, saw the man. At that hour he 
called at my house, and stated he had published the above- 
named advertisement. I in return gave him to understand that, 
if possible, I would adopt legal proceedings against him for 
the forgery. I will give you further particulars another time. 
1 am, your obedient Servant, 
Richard Vines. 
