102 MANUAL FOR STABLE SERGEANTS. 



Symptoms. — A uniformly soft, painless, fluctuating swelling, vary- 

 ing in size from that of an egg to a man's head. They often resemble 

 windgalls and hernias (ruptures of the abdominal wall), from which 

 they must be carefully differentiated. 



Treatment. — Bathe twice a day for a week with cold water, and 

 follow each bath by applications of ivhite lotion. If, at the end of 

 this time the swelling has not disappeared, apply tincture of iodine 

 or a blister. About two months are required to effect a cm-e. Open- 

 ing the enlargement is inadvisable and should be left to the vet- 

 erinarian. The animal may be worked, except when the swelling 

 is so located as to be injured by the saddle or harness. 



SUPPURATION — ABSCESS . 



372. Suppuration. — By this term is meant the formation and 

 discharge of j)us (matter). 



An abscess is a local collection of pus in the tissues of any part of 

 the body. From eight days to two or three weeks' time is usually 

 required for its development. 



Causes.— It is usually the result of an inflammation caused by an 

 injury. Abscesses also frequently occur in the course of certain 

 diseases, such as distemper, pneumonia, and pharyngitis. 



Symptons. — Heat, pain, and swelling in the injured part. The 

 swelling is at first small and hard. It graduall^^ increases in size, 

 however, and finally becomes soft and elevated in the middle into 

 a prominent hairless spot. This is called pointing or coming to a 

 head. In a few days after pointing begins the abscess opens and its 

 contents (pus) escape. 



Treatment. — Small abscesses in the early stages may be scattered 

 by the application of cold packs or tincture of iodine. The best 

 results, however, are usually obtained by the use of warm baths or 

 warm linseed poultices. When the swelling becomes soft in the center, 

 it should be opened at its lowest point, using a sharp instrument to 

 cut through the skin and a blunt one to enlarge the opening and 

 prolong it into the cavity of the abscess. A sharp instruments must 

 not be deeply inserted into the cavity, as large blood vessels may be 

 injured and fatal bleeding follow. 



After opening, the cavity must be flushed once or twice daily 

 with an antiseptic solution until pus ceases to flow. 



Abscesses, like serous sacs, sometimes resemble windgalls and 

 hernias from which they must be carefully differentiated, as opening 

 a hernia would be fatal. 



