METASTASIS.

As this term is frequently used by practitioners, it may be well to explain that it is a Greek word signifying a removal from one place to another, employed as a technical designation in describing a change of the seat of disease from one part of the animal structure to another, which is by no means uncommon for instance, when the feet are attacked with fever, that malady will appear to remove itself to some other and probably distant part, and fix itself on the lungs or other viscera, the same way that inflammation of the lungs and other parts of the upper structure will change amongst themselves, or from their own seat of disease to the feet.* I have even known superpurgation (occa

presence of any one, and thus even a veterinary surgeon may be deceived, for he is not supposed to lose his time looking after such details of trickery.

* For example, an animal is in nearly a hopeless state from inflammation of the lungs and pleura, perhaps as a complication of distemper. Suddenly there is an amelioration in the symptoms; the hurried breathing resumes the characteristics of ordinary respiration the owner, or veterinary surgeon in attendance, pronounces the patient to be out of danger-the improvement is regarded as almost miraculous. But in about twenty-four hours, often less, the horse is observed to move with difficulty in the stable; if he lies down, he is disinclined to get up; when standing, the fore feet are kept considerably more in advance than usual, the hind ones far forward under the body, so that they may as much as possible relieve the fore feet and legs from the superincumbent weight. In aggravated cases, as the heels of the fore feet are the parts which bear the most weight in progression, the horse, when forced to walk, which he can only accomplish with great difficulty, elevates the toe at every step, bringing the heel, instead of it, to the ground. The horse is then suffering from acute laminitis, or what is more generally in horse-parlance termed "founder."

sioned, in a pair of horses, by undue, but not severe work when under the irritation of the medicine) to cause fever of the feet, by a metastasis, changing the seat of irritation from the internals to the extremitiesa very palpable case in point.

SETONS.

The insertion of a seton properly belongs to the professional man, and only for the guidance of persons who, from living in remote neighbourhoods or other causes, cannot possibly procure the assistance of such, the following information is inserted, in order to obviate the necessity for some ignorant farrier being permitted to perform the operation after his own fashion. The skin is first divided, by surgical scissors made for such purposes, to the width of the seton-needle to be used, which must be wide or narrow, according to the orifice required, with white linen tape passed through its eye, about the same width as the needle and orifice. The needle is then inserted at the opening, and, passing superficially under the skin, is directed towards the point where the lower or depending orifice is intended to be, and where the needle and tape are drawn out. Sufficient tape must be left at each extremity to admit not only of its being tied round small rolls of tow which keep the tape from running through at either side, but some inches of the tape should be left in addition at one end, to allow of a portion being drawn out at one orifice each day, and a fresh piece with dressing being drawn in at the other.

In cases where there is already an upper orifice with

sinuses, the surgeon (if he does not lay the place entirely open with a knife, which, if the sinuses are deep-seated, he will do) will insert the seton-needle at such orifice, no incision with the scissors being necessary, the direction of the sinuses having been first ascertained by the careful use of the probe. The dressing to be applied to the tape will be either chloride of zinc lotion, Venice turpentine, or tincture of arnica lotion (see "Lotions"), according as the healing or discharging process may be desired, the first being the healing application. Farriers attempting this operation will even now adopt an old and most objectionable practice of tying the two ends of the seton-tape together, and turning it round at each fresh dressing; the consequence being that, if anything happen to catch in the loop thus made, the whole piece of skin may be dragged out.

LOTIONS, PURGES, BLISTERS, &c.

AS A RULE, ALL VOLATILE OILS OR TINCTURES SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED IN COLD WATER, OR LIQUID.

Strong Healing Lotion.-Chloride of zinc, two scruples; water, one pint.

Weaker, as for Sore Mouth, &c.—Chloride of zinc, one scruple; water, one pint.

To encourage Pus, and heal subsequently.—Tincture of arnica, one ounce; water, one pint.

To keep off Flies from Wounds or Bruises.-Apply a rag dipped in solution of tar.

Glycerine Lotion.-Glycerine, half pint; chloride of zinc, half ounce; water, six quarts.

To abate External Inflammation.-Vinegar, two ounces; Goulard lotion, one ounce; water, two pints.

Liniment for the Neck in Cold and Distemper, Sore Throat, &c.-One part spirit of turpentine, two parts oil, mixed, or equal parts of each, and rubbed in once or twice daily.

Purges. A mild purge is composed of-aloes, four drachms; extract of gentian, two drachms.

A very mild Laxative Drench.-Castor-oil, three ounces; linseed-oil, two ounces; warm gruel, one pint -Mix.

Of linseed-oil alone the ordinary dose is one pint. If ineffectual, to be repeated, with the addition of twenty drops of croton-oil.

Alterative Ball (for surfeit and skin diseases).— Cream of tartar, half drachm; nitre, two drachms; flowers of sulphur, half ounce-Mix in mass.

External Absorbents.-Iodine ointment and tincture, Stevens's ointment,* water-dressing.

Restoratives or Renovators-Drenches.-A quart of stout, morning or evening; hay-tea, when mashes are refused; gruel properly prepared (page 161) and linseed mashes (page 22).

Soothing Drench in Colic.-Sulphuric ether, one ounce; laudanum, one ounce; linseed-oil, one pint. Astringent Drenches (for diabetes).-Diluted phosphoric acid, one ounce; chilled water, one pint.

Or-Oak-bark, one ounce; alum, quarter ounce ; camomile tea, one pint-Made into a drench. Feeding on old hay is generally effectual to check purging.

Clysters+ (for diarrhoea, dysentery, or over-purgation). —Laudanum, one ounce-Mixed in three pints warm thin starch, repeated every half-hour, as long as neces(The above is soothing and astringent.)

sary.

(For inflammation of the bladder or kidneys.)-Injections of warm linseed-tea constantly repeated. (For dysentery.)-Injections of cold linseed-tea.

*

(For colic.)-Injection of one pint of turpentine

Prepared and sold by Mr H. R. Stevens, V.S., 8A Park Lane, London, W., and all chemists.

+ The use of the clyster syringe by unskilled hands is very dangerous-serious injury to the rectum being the common result; therefore great caution should be used to insert the pipe (well greased) slowly and not too high up the channel.