Horses and stables / by F. Fitzwygram.

  • Fitzwygram, Frederick, Sir, 1823-1904.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Horses and stables / by F. Fitzwygram. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    809/848 (page 727)
    Still these differences do not affect the general question, namely, that in the higher class of animals, and to a certain extent in the lowest, the organs of life are the same and require somewhat similar treatment as in the human being.. From some diseases common to human beings some animals are exempt. For example, the horse rarely suffers from tooth- ache ; the nerve does not approach so near the crown of the tooth as in man. Again, animals are generally exempt from those numerous diseases which man produces in himself by vice; for example, those resulting from the use of ardent spirits. On the other hand, fat and over-pampered animals suffer from liver disease as readily as man. 1037. Veterinary and Human Medical Science—distinctions between. The Veterinary medical art, however, differs from the Human medical art in several very distinct ways. 1st. Animals can give but very little assistance to the prac- titioner in detecting the seat and nature of the disease under which they are suffering. Information can only be gleaned from the symptoms. Herein the Veterinarian is placed at a disadvantage compared with the medical man, and hence greater skill in the diagnosis of disease is needed in the Veterinarian than in the Medical man. 2nd. In regard to the effect of medicine and treatment, the Veterinarian must rely wholly on his skill in discerning their effects. He cannot ask questions of the sufferer as to the effect which his medicine is producing. For instance, we give an animal iron and other tonics. We are obliged to wait until some decided result, either for good or for worse, is pro- duced. In the human subject the medical man would ascertain from his patient what result was being produced. Herein, again, greater skill is needed in the Veterinarian that in the Medical man. 3rd. It is seldom worth while to treat very serious injuries —not sicknesses, but injuries in animals. For instance, a horse breaks his leg. Bones will re-unite in an animal as easily as in man, but complete restoration to soundness can hardly be expected in either one or the other. A medical man is often