INFLAMMATION OF THE VEIN. 
441 
thinking that the disease of the pericardium, lungs, &c., was the 
secondary effect of the inflamed vein, but not from extension of 
inflammation. 
From the foregoing facts, together with my observation in cases 
of inflamed vein generally, I cannot avoid coming to the follow¬ 
ing conclusions:—that inflammation of the jugular vein in the 
horse, after bleeding, proceeds in each direction, above and be¬ 
low the orifice ; that the inflammation does not usually, if at all, 
extend to a greater distance than three or four inches on each 
side the orifice ; and that the urgent symptoms which sometimes 
exist about the head and throat are produced by the sudden ob¬ 
struction of the circulation and other causes, and not by direct 
spreading of the inflammation of the vein. Although the case 
mentioned as occurring in my own practice, and Dr. Sims’ case 
in Mr. Arnott’s paper, may not be considered sufficient to esta¬ 
blish the fact that horses may die of internal diseases brought on 
as secondaiy results of inflammation of the vein, in the same 
way as phlebitis in the human subject is knowm to terminate fa¬ 
tally by inducing similar complaints, still the subject is well 
worth investigation, and, I hope, will claim the attention of our 
profession. 
In some cases of inflamed vein the lips of the orifice entirely 
separate before the vein is plugged up with lymph or coagula, 
and thus establishing an open wound into the vein, from which 
blood will pour in alarming quantities. I have several times 
been sent for into the country to cases of this description, with 
the addition to the message requiring my attendance, that the 
horse would bleed to death before I got to it. Under such cir¬ 
cumstances I believe it is the practice with many to endeavour 
to restrain the hemorrhage by the application of the actual cau¬ 
tery to the external orifice : but this is not always effectual; and 
I have heard not only of successions of hemorrhage, but even 
that cases have happened in which the patient has bled to death 
in consequence of the detachment of the slough before the vein 
was plugged up. When this secondary hemorrhage comes on, it 
can only be permanently stopped by obliteration of the cavity of 
the vein. With this principle in view, the practice that I adopt 
in cases of this kind is merely mechanical. I insert a pin through 
the separated lips of the orifice, and draw them together with a 
thread of tow well wrapped round the pin, in the same manner 
as is done after bleeding, but more firmly. I then take every advan¬ 
tage I can of the position of the head, and wait for inflammation, 
effusion, and condensation of lymph, to close the caliber of the 
vein. There is one case of this description which occurred to me 
under rather unusual circumstances, and which 1 cannot refrain 
from giving some account of- 
