WOUNDS AND THEIR TREATMENT 



Now the disease spoken of as " poll evil," and " capped 

 elbow " (shoe-boil), have their starting point in the form of 

 " serous " abscesses. 



An abscess may be situated internally or externally, and of 

 course the former are always of a more serious nature. This 

 happens occasionally in the irregular form of strangles, and in 

 blood poisoning. 



Very large abscesses are often found beneath the skin, and 

 may arise from external injuries, or from constitutional causes 

 (e.g., strangles). 



In the early stages of " poll evil," the abscess should be 

 treated with cooling applications. The same must be said 

 for " capped elbow." The subsequent treatment of " poll evil " 

 is that of laying open the abscess — under strict antiseptic 

 precautions — and treating as a wound. 



Other abscesses require poulticing and fomenting (or 

 bhstering), and when mature, opening with the knife (lancet) 

 in-order to allow free exit of contents. 



The so-called " cold " abscess is one in which the formation 

 of matter is tardy. 



FISTULA OF WITHERS. 



This is generally due to a bruise, or other injury to the 

 withers. An ill-fitting saddle may produce the bruise, but it is 

 certainly not always caused in this way, seeing that it occurs in 

 animals which never have had, or would be likely to have, a 

 saddle upon their backs. 



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