INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS. 
237 
ment of inflammation is the termination most to be desired, and 
then the engorgement of the vessels will gradually cease, and the 
thickening of the membrane and the interstitial deposit will be 
taken up, and the effusion into the cells will likewise be absorbed, 
and the lungs will gradually resume their former cellular texture; 
yet not perfectly : there will be some induration, slight but 
general; or some more perfect induration of certain parts ; or the 
rupture of some of the air-cells; or an irritability of membrane 
predisposing to renewed inflammation. We may save the horse, 
but he will not always be as useful as before. These sequelae, 
under the terms chronic cough, thick wind, broken wind, merit 
distinct consideration; but for the present I must proceed to the 
treatment of pneumonia. 
Treatment—Bleedwg. —Here again commence jvith bleeding. 
You have inflammation of that or2:an throuo-h which all the 
blood in the frame passes—that organ most of all subject to con¬ 
gestion. Nothing can be so important as to lessen the quantity 
of blood which the heart is endeavouring to force through the 
minute vessels of the lungs, distended, irritated, breaking. When 
you bleed in other cases, you lessen the quantity of blood given 
to the part only in proportion, and that often a very small one, 
to its share of the general mass of fluid ; but here every drop 
you take away is so much subtracted from the quantity of blood 
permeating the over-distended and overworked capillaries. Then 
bleed, and bleed copiously too. In a decided case of inflammation 
of the lungs, try to knock the disease down at once—it is your 
best and sometimes will be your only chance. Take, in a man¬ 
ner, as much blood as you can get; let the stream flow on until 
the pulse falters, and the animal bears heavy upon the pail : and 
take the blood which you do take as quickly as you can take it: 
—let your lancet be broad-shouldered, and the orifice large. This 
is the secret of treating inflammation of a vital organ, and of an 
organ like this. You weaken or destroy the disease, without 
permanently impairing the strength of the patient; whereas by 
small bleedings, and with a small stream, you are sapping the 
strength of the patient, while the disease remains untouched. 
Gentlemen, if I can only impress this truth upon your minds— 
this polar star in practice—the memory of our transient con¬ 
nexion will not be displeasing to either of us. 
Physic. —Next comes purging—yes, if we dared ; for we 
should get rid of some cause of excitement, and lessen the cir¬ 
culating fluid, and produce a new determination of the vital cur¬ 
rent : but experience teaches us, that in pneumonia there is so 
much sympathy with the abdominal viscera,—there is such a 
fatal tendency in the inflammation to spread over every mucous 
VOL. VI. ah 
