ACUTE INFLAMMATION IN THE FEET. 2(J3 
decided beneficial effects result from this practice. I remember 
whilst we were in France, Captain White, at that time belonging 
to the regiment, now, I believe, living at Maidstone, in Kent, had 
a valuable horse severely attacked with inflammation in the fore 
feet. We had his shoes taken off, and his hoofs pared down; 
then, placing him in a large tub of warm water, I proceeded to 
open both the cephalic veins at the same time. They bled not 
only freely, but rapidly; and after the loss of seven or eight, or 
perhaps more, quarts of blood (for the effect is more to be at¬ 
tended to than the quantity) the horse began to break out in 
a sweat, to breathe hard, and to stagger. We were glad to get 
him out of the bath, and to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. 
The Captain, who was looking on, seemed much alarmed, and 
thought we had killed his horse. Next morning, however, we 
found the animal standing firm upon his feet, apparently free 
from pain; and he got rapidly well again. This I call cutting 
short inflammation; and whenever we get rid of it in this man¬ 
ner, it leaves no bad consequences behind. But, perhaps, you 
will ask, “ Would not the same quantity of blood taken from the 
neck, have produced the same effect V’ To this I can only say, 
that my own experience, as far as that goes, tells me, “ No.” 
I have also frequently practised bleeding from the trunks at 
the coronet or pastern veins. And here, again, we have a power¬ 
ful means of relieving inflammation in the feet. The only ob¬ 
jection I know of to this part is, that if the horse has to 
travel, secondary bleeding is apt to take place, even eight or ten 
days after the operation, which, under such circumstances, may 
sometimes be a little troublesome. 
We see, then, that we can make our selection. Abstraction of 
blood from any of these parts is likely to have a good local effect; 
and if we fail in giving relief by one of these means, we may 
have recourse to them all, alternately, in daily succession. But 
with regard to bleeding, I would say, once for all, that we must 
make an active use of it whilst it is yet time, for that time will 
soon pass away. 
The next remedy in importance to bleeding, in my opinion, is 
the warm bath. The patient should be made to stand for several 
hours together, or as long*at a time as he can bear it, in a large 
tub of warm water, which is to be kept up nearly at the tempe¬ 
rature of blood heat. When tired he may be allowed to lie down 
awhile, and then put in again. This should be continued all day; 
and at night much good may be done by putting large bran poul¬ 
tices over the feet: some opening or laxative medicine should be 
given, and a slop diet enjoined. But my chief reliance is upon 
the active employment of the lancet, and the diligent use of the 
