•224 
observations on windgall. 
irritation is apparent. I never knew a horse to bite or rub the 
part to which the solution has been applied; on the contrary, it is 
by no means uncommon to find that a limb which has been rested 
only on the toe of the foot, indicative of pain or uneasiness, and 
the gait in like manner shewing evident soreness, either or both 
will, even before the outward appearance of action, shew great 
mitigation: the foot is placed firmer on the ground, the heels 
brought down, or even the whole weight borne while the opposite 
or sound leg has been rested. 
It may appear that these remarks favour of quackery, or at 
least of an overweening predilection for a favourite remedy ; but 
facts are stubborn things to overcome, and when I have seen such 
striking results not only from this but other remedies, when applied 
to properly selected cases, I consider myself fully justified in 
speaking, it may be strongly, of them. One other point is also 
worthy of being noted, and that is, the very great difference which 
exists in the idiosyncracy of the skin in different animals of the 
same species, and this entirely independent of diseased action, or 
of thickness or thinness of integument. I have known some very 
fine thin skins resist the action of rubefacient agents in a remark¬ 
able degree; so also have I known the thick flabby indolent skin 
shew similar inaptitude to be affected by similar agents, and the 
converse in each case; but, as a general rule, it may be inferred 
that where there is moderate degree of normal warmth, shewing 
that the capillary circulation is fairly developed, so will there be a 
greater susceptibility to be acted on by a rubefacient: but this 
must not be mistaken for the increased action of disease. At a very 
early period of my career, as a practitioner I became aware of this ; 
and though a priori reasoning would lead to the belief that a 
blister applied to an inflamed leg—that is, one considered to be in a 
fit state for its application—would produce a much greater effect 
than on the opposite leg not so affected, the reverse is practically 
the fact. As an instance, take a horse that has sprung the flexor 
tendons, and has undergone the usual precursory treatment, heat 
still manifesting itself, the opposite leg cool or indeed cold: 
blister both ; rub an equal quantity, and for the same period, on 
to each: the sound or cold leg will be very much more blistered 
than the lame leg; and, to equalize the effect, 1 have been in the 
habit of employing a less quantity of ointment, as well as less 
rubbing, to the sound leg than to the other, and I have always 
found that I have obtained thereby an equal effect on each leg. I 
may here give a rule for the application of blisters, which I believe 
is not generally known, very simple, and always efficacious,—that 
is, to rub the leg until it gets warm under the hand: sometimes 
the merely smearing on of the ointment will do this. I have seen 
so rapid an effect, that the application to the second leg could with 
