WAUBLES OK SLIGHT TUMOURS AND S1TPASTS. 369 



injury may be done to the gradually increasing formation of new skin, 

 which commenced its growth on the outer edges of the wound and indi- 

 cates itself by its shining or opalescent edges. 



CHAPTER 19. 



WARBLES OR SLIGHT TUMOURS AND S1TFASTS. 



759. Warbles or slight tumours. 760. Sitfasts. 760a. Helanosis. 

 7601. Scirrhous Cord. 



759. Warbles or slight tumours. 



Warbles are recent soft swellings or tumours arising from inflammation 

 of the skin, generally caused by friction or undue pressure of the saddle, 

 girth, or collar on the part affected, or sometimes by bad saddling, or bad 

 riding, even though the saddle fit perfectly. The swelling itself is due to 

 a slight effusion of serum, or lymph, or of both, produced by the inflam- 

 mation. 



The first essential in treatment is to remove the cause of the irritation. 

 In addition the horse should, if possible, be spared from Avork for a day 

 or two. The stuffing and fitting of the saddle or other article of equip- 

 ment should be looked to and, if necessary, altered. In some cases a 

 chamber must be made over the part affected. 



The Warble itself will be best treated by a solution of salt and water. 

 It is not advisable to foment the part, because hot water has a tendency 

 to make it tender and unduly sensitive of future injury. If the part 

 really requires fomentation and is likely to suppurate, the injury is 

 beyond what is usually called a Warble, and must be treated according to 

 its nature and degree, as a contused wound. 



Troublesome fluctuating Warbles sometimes require to be laid open 

 through the centre from end to end. The interior must then be touched 

 with caustic, and cold water dressings may afterwards be applied. 



759<x. Other small tumours. 



These are generally caused by insects or flies, which burrow into the 

 skin and deposit their larvae in it. The tumours are not serious. Thev 

 can easily be got rid of by squeezing the little lump between the thumb 

 of each hand. 



760. Sitfasts. 



When a swelling, such as described in the preceding paragraph, either 

 by neglect or by repeated recurrence of the cause has become hard and 



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