INFLAMMATION OF THE VEIN. 
443 
stertorous breathing, also followed, and it was, in fact, one of the 
severest cases of inflammation of the vein that has come under 
my care : still it terminated favourably, and the gentleman used 
the horse for several years, and then sold him, perfectly sound, 
except the obliteration of the vein on the right side of the neck. 
The local treatment which I adopt in cases of inflammation of 
the vein, and upon which I have great reliance, is, blistering 
along the course of the vein. I do not, what I consider a w^aste 
of time, apply fomentations or other emollient applications; but, 
if the disease has extended beyond the orifice, I at once direct 
liquid blister to be rubbed over the inflamed vein, and the effect 
kept up till the complaint is subdued by the occasional repeti¬ 
tion of the remedy—once in two or three days, as may seem to 
be required. 1 generally find that recent cases will speedily yield 
to this treatment; and in those of longer standing, in which the 
disease has made much progress, the application of the blister 
will often, at once, arrest the affection ; and a few repetitions of 
it effect a cure. I must, how’ever, observe, that there is a strons: 
tendency to effusion of lymph and obliteration of the cavity of 
the vein; and without we have the case almost at its first com¬ 
mencement, it is impossible to prevent the vein from being lost, 
no matter what treatment may be adopted. When enlargement 
of the glands about the head and soreness of throat are amongst 
the symptoms, the blistering is continued over these parts. When 
congestion of the vessels of the head follows as a consequence 
of inflamed vein, we must combine constitutional remedies with 
our local ones. Bleeding may be advisable in very urgent cases, 
but most of them, I think, will yield to purgative, laxative, and 
sedative medicines. I had a case, two years ago, in which, after 
profuse secondary hemorrhage, an affection of the brain so con¬ 
siderable came on, that the patient (a cart mare), if moved about, 
would stagger and even fall down from giddiness of the head. 
A smart purgative was given, followed by small doses of aloes 
with digitalis, &c. 8cc., and blistering the neck, and the case did 
well. 
I have heard and read of a succession of abscesses forming in 
the course of the vein, which have been very troublesome to heal; 
and in order to get rid of them, even taking up the vein is recom¬ 
mended. I have never met with such cases in my practice : some¬ 
times an abscess will form at the orifice, and occasionally one or two 
in the course of the vein ; but I have found these to heal with no 
great difficulty, by injecting a solution of nitrate of silver or sul¬ 
phate of zinc into them, keeping up the action of the blister over 
the vein so long as any appearance of inflammation exists. 
