208 THE ANATOMY AND DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND MOUTH. 



usually takes place in the space between the branches of the maxillary bone, 

 and occurring there it appears in the mildest form, and little danger attends. 

 When the disease is ushered in by considerable febrile disturbance, and the 

 suppuration takes place elsewhere, the horse too frequently sinks under the 

 attack. 



The treatment of strangles is very simple. As the essence of the disease 

 consists in the formation and suppuration of the specific tumour, the principal, 

 or almost the sole attention of the practitioner, should be directed to the 

 hastening of these processes : therefore, as soon as the tumour of strangles is 

 decidedly apparent, the part should be actively blistered. Old practitioners 

 used to recommend poultices, which, from the thickness of the horse's skin, 

 must have very little effect, even if they could be confined on the part ; and 

 from the difficulty and almost impossibility of this, and their getting cold 

 and hard, they necessarily weakened the energies of nature, and delayed 

 the ripening of the tumour. Fomentations are little more effectual. A blister 

 will not only secure the completion of the process, but hasten it by many 

 days, and save the patient much pain and exhaustion. It will produce 

 another good effect it will, previously to the opening of the tumour, 

 abate the internal inflammation and soreness of the throat, and thus lessen 

 the cough and wheezing. 



As soon as the swelling is soft on its summit, and evidently contains matter, it 

 should be freely and deeply lanced. It is a bad, although frequent practice, 

 to suffer the tumour to burst naturally, for a ragged ulcer is formed, very 

 slow to heal, and difficult of treatment. If the incision is deep and large enough, 

 no second collection of matter will be formed : and that which is already there 

 may be suffered to run out slowly, all pressure with the fingers being avoided. 

 The part should be kept clean, and a little friar's balsam daily injected into the 

 wound. 



The remainder of the treatment will depend on the symptoms. If there is 

 much fever, and evident affection of the chest, and which should carefully be 

 distinguished from the oppression and choking occasioned by the pressure of 

 the tumour, it will be proper to bleed. In the majority of cases, however, 

 bleeding will not only be unnecessary, but injurious. It will delay the suppu- 

 ration of the tumour, and increase the subsequent debility. A few cooling 

 medicines, as nitre, emetic tartar, and perhaps digitalis, may be given, as the 

 case requires. The appetite, or rather the ability to eat, will return with the 

 opening of the abscess. Bran-mashes, or fresh-cut grass or tares, should be 

 liberally supplied, which will not only afford sufficient nourishment to recruit 

 the strength of the animal, but keep the bowels gently open. If the weakness 

 is not great, no farther medicine will be wanted, except a dose of mild physic 

 in order to prevent the swellings or eruptions which sometimes succeed to 

 strangles. In cases of debility, a small quantity of tonic medicine, as chamo- 

 niile, gentian, or ginger, may be administered *. 



* Mr. Percivall gives the following descrip- various parts in the immediate vicinity often 



tion of some untoward cases : u The sub- take on the same kind of action. In particu- 



maxillary tumour is often knotted and divided lar, the salivary glands, the parotid, sublingual, 



on its first appearance, as if the glands re- the throat, the pharynx and larynx, the nose, 



ceived the primary attack. As it spreads, it the lining membrane, the nostrils, the sinuses, 



becomes diffused in the cellular tissue included the mouth, the tongue, the cheeks, the lips 



in the space between the sides and branches of in fine, in some violent cases, the whole head 



the lower jaw, involving all the subcutaneous appears to be involved in one general mass of 



parts contained in that interval indisciimi. tumefaction, while every vent is running over 



nately in one uniform mass of tumefaction, with discharge. The patient experiencing this 



While this general turgescence is going on, violent form of disease is in a truly pitiable 



