INFLAMMATION IN THE FEET OF HORSES. 17 
animal, in relation to his use to man, viz., the organ upon which 
and by which he moves. 
Blood-letting presents itself on this, as on many other occasions, 
( first, and, I may add, principally, to our consideration. The 
febrile commotion w T ill probably call for general depletion; but if 
I you can effect this through abstracting blood from the foot, it will 
be productive of the twofold benefit of abating fever, while it is 
unloading the over-charged vessels of the inflamed parts. Do not 
dally with the ease by any attempts to draw blood from the pas¬ 
tern veins, as has been recommended; but determine at once on 
deriving it from the arterial system; and the most ready and ef¬ 
fectual mode of accomplishing this is, to draw the sole very thin, 
and scoop out the part which unites with the toe of the crust, and, 
as soon as the drawing-knife has reached the sensible parts, to 
make a deep puncture with a lancet, so as to completely divide 
the artery encircling the lower border of the foot. Many a foot 
has been saved by prompt and active local arteriotomy. In addi¬ 
tion, however, to the ordinary circumstances by which bleeding, 
more particularly in regard to quantity, is to be regulated, we 
must take into our account whether it is a case of primary attack, 
or one of metastasis; because, in the latter instance, it is only fair 
to infer that the animal is already in a stage of depression. We 
are not to rest contented with one evacuation—we are, in the course 
of a few hours, to recur to the lancet; and do this again and again, 
until we have made manifest impression on the heat and pain felt 
in the feet. (I enter into detail as little as possible, because I feel 
it would be idle and presumptive in me to so waste the time of 
this Society.) To continueIf I could abstract no more blood from 
the artery around the toe, I would, without hesitation, push a lan¬ 
cet or a seton-needle through the cleft of the frog. I have seen 
very copious bleedings follow this operation; and I have rarely 
failed to remark that much benefit has resulted from it. I shall 
not trouble the Society with any observations about the use of hot 
or cold local applications, thinning the horn, or applying blisters 
or setons ; or on the necessity of setting the feet free from all con¬ 
striction, by the removal of the shoes, or of the application of 
screw shoes; but shall proceed to make some observations on the 
state in which our patient ought, if possible, to be placed. 
It is true, that in many cases we are relieved from all solici¬ 
tude in regard to this part of his management, by his quietly keep¬ 
ing the recumbent posture, than which none can be more proper 
and favourable; but, every now and then, it happens that pain 
will not allow quietude, or he appears indisposed to lie down at 
all; then it is that much mischief is doing by standing, which, 
had we it in our power, we should do well to avoid. 
VOL. II. D 
