MEMOIRS OF A VETERINARY SURGEON. 375 
of life. I think there is no disease that is such a tell-tale one 
as this. If you relax in the strength of your dose or its fre- 
quency, if the groom neglect to give the corn, or the quantity 
is decreased, all improvement ceases, and the case will 
speedily degenerate. I wish to lay stress upon this point, 
for unless the medicine be faithfully administered, and corn 
diet liberally allowed, the case will certainly end in dis- 
appointment and discredit. But be it distinctly understood, 
1 am not one of those who entirely ignore the inherent 
powers of the animal economy, or estimate their share in the 
triumphant result as either slight or unimportant; for 
although I consider that in this disease the above treatment, 
faithfully adhered to and persisted in, is absolutely and essen- 
tially requisite, under almost every other condition I have 
the greatest faith in nature’s capabilities, if properly aided, 
over any treatment whatever. 
Use of Draughts . — It has been long held necessary to 
administer this medicine in a fluid form ; but I have never 
once seen any evil result from its administration in that of a 
soft, fresh-made ball, although I have seen very serious injury 
follow its being given as a draught. It must be remembered, 
that the doses are so frequently exhibited, and so likely to be 
continued for some days at least, that the fauces and larynx 
become irritated and sore, when it is given as a liquid, and very 
soon it becomes apparent that the animal cannot swallow; 
then the medicine is either wasted, or else some portion of 
it finds its way down the windpipe, and the chances are you 
lose your patient. I am decidedly of opinion that small por- 
tions of a draught get into the lungs, I mean in our general 
practice, much more frequently than we are at first inclined 
to believe; and they there create such an amount of injury as 
we are incapable afterwards to remove. 
Blistering . — I have the greatest confidence in the benefits 
resulting from severe and repeated blisters over the affected 
part as an adjunct to the general treatment. 
Trephining . — In all cases where the discharge continues 
for a long time, it must be inferred that some cause for it 
exists. If it be ascertained that the animal has a decayed 
tooth, extract it; if not, explore the cavities. Trephining 
is an operation frequently found absolutely necessary to 
effect a cure, and I have seen it perfectly successful after all 
other means have failed. 
Si/ringeing . — Some practitioners are in the habit of injecting 
various solutions up the nostrils. 1 have a strong objection 
to this mode of treatment, although I confess I have seen 
good effects follow’ a small quantity of some astringent fluid 
