THE LATE EPIDEMIC DISEASES AMONG HORSES, &c. 281 
be advisable, and may be continued until the strength of the 
animal has been recovered. In those cases, however, where the 
heart is chiefly affected, as indicated by a weak, quick, irregular, 
or intermitting pulse, the same reasons which suggest caution in 
the abstraction of blood will also shew the impropriety of giving- 
sedative medicines, because such medicines generally produce 
their effects through the nervous system on the heart, diminish- 
ing its power, and inducing weakness, or acting as a kind of 
poison on that organ, and that at a time when the organ, which, 
although an involuntary muscle, and with its ordinary action, is 
not liable to exhaustion, yet in a state of disease it is liable to 
fatigue, or is, at least, rendered weak and feeble, and unable 
properly to perform its function, which is that of supplying all 
the other parts of the body with blood. It is therefore evident, 
that in those cases in which the heart is the seat of the disease, 
and also in proportion as that organ is more or less involved even 
in conjunction with other organs, the treatment must be modi- 
fied according to the circumstances of the case; and, in some 
cases, it may be necessary, instead of giving sedatives, to admi- 
nister tonics, for the purpose of keeping up the strength and tone 
of the heart, in order that it may be able to go on to perform 
its functions. For this purpose, it may be necessary not only to 
give tonics, but even diffusible stimuli, where the powers are 
likely to give way. 
The same remarks are applicable to the other parts of treat- 
ment. In those cases where the lungs are chiefly affected, coun- 
ter-irritants are required ; while, in the case of disease of the 
heart, the use of such means, especially large blisters, are ob- 
jectionable, because they call on the heart for increased exertion, 
in order to send the blood to those parts to which blisters or other 
active irritants are applied. 
If, then, I am right in my view of the disease you have described, 
it is easy to explain its fatal tendency, and at the same time to 
point out the paramount necessity of great discrimination, and a 
very frequent attendance of the veterinary surgeon on his patients, 
and the necessity of his being early applied to. 
One of the best tonics in such cases is sulphate of iron, to 
which camphor may be added, also a proportion of gentian, ca- 
momile, or other vegetable tonics. Venice turpentine, or other 
medicines of a similar class, are also useful, by stimulating the 
kidneys, but without the sedative effects of digitalis, which me- 
dicine may, however, be used with advantage, where the effusion 
is confined to the chest, or in the early stages of the disease. 
When, however, sedatives are admissible, I prefer tartar emetic, 
or antimonial powder with nitre (given after the operation of some 
vol. xvi. P p 
