326 THE ACTUAL CAUTERY IN PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
quired, knowing that the qualities of either sire or dam, in excel¬ 
lence or defect, descend from generation to generation; and that it 
is likewise the opinion of most breeders that an adherence to one 
particular breed produces or disposes to degeneracy in almost every 
animal. 
[To be continued.] 
THE ACTUAL CAUTERY IN PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 
By Robert Nicholson, M.B.C.V.S., Womersley, near 
Pontefract. 
To the Editor of “ The Veterinarian .” 
Sir,—I PERCEIVE, in your Number for April (p. 199) some 
remarks on a communication of mine, by J. Z. M. ; on the treat¬ 
ment of Pleuro-Pneumonia. I gave only a short history of the 
symptoms and treatment of the case in question, my object being 
more to direct the attention of the profession to the value of the 
cautery in cases of debility. It is frequently observed, that blisters 
and other irritants are far less energetic when applied to a debili¬ 
tated animal than to one in good health: what will blister in the 
latter case having frequently little or no effect in the former. I 
have had, during a long and extensive practice, I may say, hund¬ 
reds of cases, in which this effect was more or less observable. As 
to the employment of the cautery in the early stages of this dis¬ 
ease, I question how far we should be justifiable in using it, indis¬ 
criminately, until other means had been tried in vain. It must be 
borne in mind, that the usual irritants took no effect upon the skin 
of the animal, in the case narrated in my former communication. I 
have not the slightest doubt that this case would have very speedily 
had a fatal termination but for the employment of the cautery. I 
have neither time nor inclination to enter into a long correspond¬ 
ence upon this subject. The remarks I made were published 
with a view to point out a powerful auxiliary in the relief of a 
formidable disease, and not to enter into physiological discussion 
upon the nature of the malady in question. 
I remain, Sir, 
Your’s respectfully. 
April 29th, 1849. 
