362 DISEASES ARISING FR0:M NEGLECT. 



resembling the white of an egg. They are readily detected by 

 their soft yielding feeling, and by their evident want of connection 

 •with the surrounding parts. Nothing but the knife is of the 

 slightest use. By cutting through them, the sac may readily be 

 torn out, each half at a time, taking care not to leave a particle 

 behind, as it is sure to grow again into another sac of the samo 

 size as before. 



ABSCESSES. 



Abscesses, the result of inflammation, are very common in the 

 dog. They show themselves in the early stage, as hard pain- 

 ful swellings more or less deep, but gradually coming to the sur- 

 face, when the skin reddens, and they burst in the course of 

 time. Very often, however, the matter forms so slowly, and 

 has such a tendency to burrow among the muscles, that, if it is 

 let out by the knife in the early stage, it produces great exhaus- 

 tion from the quantity formed. Matter may be detected as soon 

 as it is thrown out, by the sensation given to the fingers of each 

 hand called " fluctuation." That is to say, on pressing one side of 

 the swelling with the left hand, the other side rises beneath the 

 fingers of the right, in an elastic way, just as happens with a water- 

 pillow, when pressure is made upon it. When, therefore, this 

 fluctuation is clearly made out, a lancet or knife should be insert- 

 ed, and made to cut its way out, so as to leave a considerable open- 

 ing, which should be so arranged as to let the matter drain out at 

 all times. This is what in surgery is called a " depending open- 

 ing." 



UNNATURAL PARTURfTION. 



When, says Mr. Youatt, the time of parturition amves,and there 

 is evident difficulty in producing the foetus, recourse should be had 

 to the ergot of rye, given every hour or half-hour, according to cir- 

 cumstances. If after a certain time, some progress, however little. 



