Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-08-10
Blister.


Blistering constitutes one of the most
effective appliances of the healing art,
and is one of the, chief remediesin con-
siderable number of diseases. The main
principle on. which it acts is that of
counter-irritation,, or of reducing in
hammatory action in an interior organ
of the animal system by exciting a
stronger local inflammation on the near
est exterior part of the system; and
subordinate principle is the accelerating
of the action of the nearest blood vessels
or the rousing of the local absorbents to
a temporary condition of unusual en-
ergy.
Blisters are eminently eflicacious in
dispensing such callous swellings as
arise from strains, bruises, and other
similar causes. They are of great SER
vice in reducing the Inflammation of
parts remote from the surface This in
flammation of the internal parts of the
foot may be reduced by blistering above
thecoronet; inflammation of the bowels,
by blistering the abdomen. and infam-
nation of the lungs, by blistering the
sides. Blisters are also the best RENE
dies; for curbs, , windgalls, spayins and
various other disorders. When properly
made and free from any such caustic
ingredients as sulphuric acid and cor
r'osive sublimate they intlict no perma-
nent damage on the skin, and do not
prevent the hair from growing; and
when they are not successful in the first
application they can, with all safety, be
repeated, But blister, ought never to
be applied to a part which is irritated
or tender, for it might then produce en-
tensive and virulent. sloughing; nor
ought it ever to be applied whore there
is tendency to grease or scratches, for
it would be likely to aggrayate such dis
orders; and whenever 1t requires to be
applied during winter, thorough care
ought to be used to protect the animal
from cold or from current of air about
the legs. sFs5F HBoQ
When a blister is to be applied, the
part should previously be cleared as
much as possihlefrom hair, quantity
of the blistering ointment should be
well rubbed into it, and thin coat of
the ointment afterward'spread over the
whole surface. A horse, on beginning
to feel the action of the blister is very
apt to bite, the part, and, in conse-
quence, both to do serious mischief to
the part and to blister his month. To
prevent this, he ought to either be tied
short or to have what is called a cradle
placed about his neck, during six to
eight hours after the application of the
blister When thesblister is applied to
any Of the, q,legs, the bedding should be
removed during the same number of
hours, and If the hinder limbs are to be
blistered, the tail should be ted up
during the first day. liIA 'hl nif
The most active ingredients in the
great majority of suitable blisters is pull
verified Spanish flies. One common bll-
stering ointment for horses is composed
OF half an ounce of powdered Spanish
flies, an ounce OF oil of turpentine, and
four ounces of hogs lard; another is
composed d of one and half or two
ounces Of Spanish flies, half an ounce
OF oil OF orlganum one ounce of oil of
| turpentine, two ounces of hogs lard,
and four ounces OF common tar. Cor
rosive sublimate has frequently been
recommended san Ingredient of blis-
ter; yet, except when very severe blis-
tering, as in case of bone spawn, OF
ring bone, is required, it ought in every
instance 70 be omitted, for it is'very apt
to nloerate the skin, and leave a perma-
nent mark or blemish. Good mustard,
made into paste with hot water, and
applied hot, often blisters as well as
ointment of Spanish flies, and ought to
be used instead of the latter. when q
large surface is to be blistered, such as
the sides, the abdomen, or the loins.
Some OF the preparations of iodine and
mercury also make active blisters, and
are sometimes used mixed with oint