ULCfiRATION AND SLOUGHING. 199 



cicatrise and contract. An inflamed ulcer presents a red surface, and the 

 suiTOunding parts are hot, swollen, and red. The discharge is sanious 

 and offensive. A weak ulcer has large, pale, flabby granulations, which 

 have but feeble vitality. An indolent ulcer has a flat surface with raised, 

 white, irregular edges and a thin sanious discharge. If granulations are 

 present, they are of a weak character. 



405. Treatment. 



The treatment consists mainly in attention to the general health. 

 The causes, which have been detailed above, show plainly enough that 

 ulceration results from a low state of vitality, either in the system gener- 

 ally or in the part immediately affected. Every means, therefore, such 

 as good feeding, good grooming, plenty of fresh air and the administra- 

 tion of tonics, must be adopted in order to improve the general health. 

 An ulcer seldom refuses to heal, unless the tone of the system is low and 

 deficient. 



The best local treatment for a simple ulcer is a plain cold water dress- 

 ing. The reparative process will not commence until the inflammation 

 in the part is entirely reduced. As a general rule, the ointments are in- 

 jurious and retard the cure. If, however, the ulcer is indolent, moderate 

 pressure round it will be useful, with the addition, if need be, of a stimu- 

 lating lotion. If this is not sufficient, a light blister may be applied 

 somewhat frequently round the neighbourhood of the sore, with a view 

 of exciting a healthier action of the parts in its vicinity. If the ulcer is 

 very irritable, a sedative lotion may be substituted for the cold water 

 dressing. Other circumstances may require that the dressing should be 

 of an emollient, an astringent, or caustic character. 



If the ulcer arises from a plainly and purely local cause, such as the 

 injury done to the underlying tissues by the pressure of a saddle on the 

 withers, local treatment alone may be sufficient to bring about a 

 healthier action ; but in all more serious cases we can only look for the 

 commencement of the curative process by improving the general health 

 and the tone of the system. 



406. Healing process. 



The healing process always begins at 4 he edges of the sore. Its com- 

 mencement is marked by several changes within the tissues contiguous 

 to the ulcer. In the first place they acquire greater firmness ; 2ndly the 

 exposed surface of the sore assumes a more healthy character, the edges 

 and the granulations' become more red, the granulations become covered 

 with cuticle commencing from the edges, and thereby general contraction 

 of the size of the sore takes place ; 3rdly the discharge which exudes 

 from the sore acquires a greater consistency and becomes of an albu- 

 minous character. This healthy secretion gradually spreads over the 

 ulcer, serving a double purpose, namely, it protects the raw surface of the 



