OBSERVATIONS ON WINDGALL. 
225 
difficulty be completed from the first becoming so speedily affected: 
on the other hand, half an hour’s rubbing to each leg has barely 
sufficed to raise a moderate blister. Not a bad plan, when it is 
suspected that this torpidity of skin exists (and practice and ob¬ 
servation will soon give a tolerably correct idea), is to brush the 
leg well, and then rub all over the part to be blistered a liniment 
composed of equal parts of oil and spirits of turpentine; yet I 
would not advise any one to do this until some practical knowledge 
has been acquired. But I am digressing. 
The first appearance of the action of the solution is slight 
swelling, the hair standing on end wherever the solution has 
touched; then an exudation from the surface of the skin bedewing 
the hair, rarely sufficient to run: this dries; a portion of the hair 
separates; a thick parchment-like eschar, through which the hairs 
penetrate, is formed, which gradually separates from the cuticle; a 
thinner exfoliation follows, and, if the solution be strong, a third, 
but still thinner, succeeds: with this the whole of the hair does 
not come off ; the skin feels hard and indurated—very little, if any, 
soreness. This stage may take from four to six weeks, during 
which time no application ought to be made: even water is better 
avoided, though, should there be too much inflammation, cold water 
might be of service. The surrounding parts are not generally very 
tumid. 
After the action has ceased, the hair grows again, and leaves no 
mark (after a time) of any treatment having been adopted; at 
least, I have not as yet seen any permanent blemish : perhaps 
this may have arisen from a most scrupulous avoidance of any 
greasy or oily application. When the new hair is growing, then, 
if such should be requisite, a second application may be made, but 
not sooner. As a general rule, I consider that the action set up 
does not subside under five or six weeks. 
The diseases in which I have employed it are windgall, tho¬ 
rough-pin, incipient spavin, splent, ring-bone, and carpitis, and in 
curb at all stages; in short, in those cases which I have not consi¬ 
dered it feasible or been allowed to use the potential cautery, and 
where the ordinary blisters have not been sufficiently powerful to 
effect the desired end. 
From the fact of its not producing pain or irritation, I have 
found it invaluable in the treatment of foals or yearlings, where 
such an application as a blister has been called for, as a colt can be 
turned out immediately after its application. Another and very 
useful application is to the eyelids in subacute ophthalmia, as by a 
little careful manipulation it can be applied up to the edges of the 
palpebrse, and to any extent that may be required around them, 
with the greatest accuracy; and I have found much benefit in such 
treatment of some of the forms of ophthalmia. 
