THE VETEIUNAKY ART IN INDIA. 
17 
If the horse is in high condition he may lose four quarts of 
blood from a large orifice, which will give temporary relief ; and 
if the inflammation is great a rowel may be made under his throat, 
to divert the redundancy of humours. A gentle dose of physic, 
consisting of six or eight drachms of aloes and one drachm of 
calomel, may be given ; and, after the operation, he may take a 
bolus three times a-day, consisting of half a drachm of opium and 
one drachm of tartar, made into a proper consistence with a little 
treacle or honey. This mode may be pursued for five or six 
weeks, introducing in the course another dose of physic, and con- 
cluding with a third. 
If the animal is out of condition, or of a very delicate habit, 
three or four diuretic balls may be substituted for the physic. 
The horse, during this course, must be warmly clothed to assist 
the action of the medicine, and his stable kept very cool, yet not 
exposed to any current of air. His litter must be frequently 
changed, his gram reduced to half its usual quantity, and the 
water he drinks softened with two or three handfuls of bran. His 
exercise must be attended to, which should be twice a-day, unless 
the violence of the inflammation forbids. 
In respect to local applications, I would recommend cloths dipped 
in cold spring water frequently applied over his eyes and fore- 
head. His eyes may be frequently and gently washed with a solu- 
tion of half a drachm of crude sal ammoniac, or one drachm of 
sugar of lead, in a bottle of cold spring water ; after which a cloth 
dipped in the solution may be tied over his eyes to prevent the 
admission of light. In some very obstinate cases, salt powdered 
very fine and gently blown into the eye has been found to relieve. 
It is very probable that the inflammation may be dispersed at the 
commencement of the above course ; but I would recommend per- 
severing in it as the best mode of preventing a return. 
If, in opposition to every endeavour, a cataract succeeds, which 
is the last stage of this disease, I would recommend laying aside 
all further remedies, unless inflammation still exists, which will 
generally disappear on bleeding, purging, and local application*. 
* A great deal has been said of extracting the cataract, couching, &c. I 
think there are too many obstacles to encounter ; for, independent of the 
operation being much more difficult than in the human subject from the 
function of the retractor oculi, and the membrana nietitans, it seldom suc- 
ceeds ; and, even allowing the operation to be ever so successful, still the focal 
distance is removed, and glasses to remedy this defect cannot be employed, 
or even if they could, still the focal point could not be ascertained, and the 
animal, being deceived as to the true distance, will be always starting and 
stumbling, by which the remedy will be equal to the disease. 
VOL. XVI L 
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