In the Stable, Field, and on the Road. 177 



tumour to a suppuration. The first thing to be done is 

 to apply a sharp blister over the tumour between the 

 jaws, and for this purpose use Stevens' blister, or 

 biniodide of mercury. This administered in time will 

 facilitate the discharge a week or two sooner than it 

 would otherwise take place if allowed to come to a 

 period naturally. It will also have a tendency to draw 

 out the inflammation from the mucous membrane of 

 the throat, and consequently greatly ameliorate the 

 cough. The old practice of fomenting and applying 

 poultices to the tumour has almost passed away, as 

 they often proved ineffectual from the great thickness 

 of the horse's skin. Shortly after the blister has been 

 applied, a hot linseed meal poultice may be added, and 

 repeated twice a day until the tumour has become full 

 of matter and is quite soft. The tumour frequently 

 breaks of its own accord, but I do not like to do so as 

 the lips of the wound in that case become jagged, and 

 take a longer time to heal. I prefer to take a lancet and 

 insert it in the bottom of the tumour and cut upwards, 

 making a cut an inch or an inch and a-half in length. 

 The matter must be well squeezed out, and the lips of 

 the incision kept open with a piece of lint, which 

 should be kept in the wound for at least a week to keep 

 up the suppuration, otherwise a second tumour may 

 be formed which frequently proves very difficult to 

 cure. After the matter has been discharged, a small 

 quantity of carbolised oil may be injected into the 

 wound daily. At this stage of the complaint, if there 

 is no unusual degree of fever, it is advisable to give a 

 laxative, and the following will be found very good for 



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