- 94]
ELO of any other method for effect- ing that purpose. As there can be no doubt, that blood-letting is an invaluable remedy in some disorders, it is the more pecu- liarly incumbent on the practiti- oner, to distinguish with care those cases in which imminent danger may be averted, and health re- stored by the use of it. There are two cases, and perhaps only two, in which venesection is likely to be attended with real advantage ; 1 . When it is required to prevent the fluids from gaining access to the parts more essential to life ; and 2. Where means must be speedily used to counteract a threatened in- flammation in the intestines. But even in those two cases, the intelli- gent physician is at no loss for other remedies, which may be frequently administered widr greater safety and equal success. The blood contains in itself, and •affords to the vessels, nerves, muscles, membranes, tendons, li- gaments, bones, in short, to the whole organized body, all the sub- stance and properties which enter into the formation of each, and constitute them what they are. Each of these parts is evolved from the blood, and adapted to its pro- per place, m so wonderful a man- ner, that the human mind is to- tally at a loss to comprehend how this operation is performed ; nei- ther have the researches of the most acute and attentive observer been able to account for it. And as the blood serves to supply the waste, and to make up the losses, which those parts occasionally sus- tain, it may be considered as the original source of cur whole, orga- nization. Now it requires little reflection to perceive; that: by waiting tliis vital fluid., the sources BLO of animal support and regenera- tion are in a great measure ob- structed and diminished. Although it be true, that the blood lost by periodical bleedings is soon repro- duced by the activity of the vital powers, yet this restoration is not effected without considerable ef- forts, and at the expence of the whole machine. As this exerdon, therefore, is a great pressure upon the vital powers, it must of course be attended with a proportionate degree of .their consumption. And experience has shewn in number- less instances, that persons accus- tomed to frequent blood-letting are not only rendered more delicate in their constitutions, and more sub- ject to diseases, but also that they die in general at an earlier age than others. The absurd notion, that bleeding is useful and necessary to the pro- longation of human life, is still pretty generally received among the common people of all coun- tries. Yet neither the good nor the lad days, superstitiously marked in the almanacks for the. amuse- ment of the vulgar, can palliate or justify the mischief with which this dangerous error is pregnant : for bleeding can only be of service in some urgent cases, and when performed at the proper time : but to the healthy it is always injuri- ous. Blond-letting, in farriery, an operation often undertaken wheri it is as useless and pernicious as in the human species. Such horses, however, as stand much in stable, and are full fed, occasionally re- quire bleeding, especial!}' when their ej r es are heavy and inflamed, or when they feel unusually hot, and champ their hay. Young horses should be bled when
