DEEP-SEATED INGUINAL ABSCESS AFTER CASTRATION. 41 



The diffuse induration about the wound gave one the impression of a 

 new growth, so that for a moment 1 fancied we might be deahng with 

 an epithehal tumour developed in the perinaeal region, and extending 

 far forwards in the abdominal wall. 



Having enlarged the fistulous track, I asked M. Weber to examine 

 the parts, and explore the fistula and abscess cavity. He found 

 nothing to explain the symptoms previously noted. Nevertheless we 

 decided not to make a deeper exploration at the time. I curetted the 

 walls of the abscess, excised a fragment of dead tissue for micro- 

 scopical examination, washed out the wound with an antiseptic 

 solution, and allowed the animal to rise. During the evening the 

 operative wound was washed out several times with sublimate solution. 

 Histological examination of the tissue removed showed that the lesion 

 was of an inflammatory character, at least at the point from which the 

 fragment had been removed. 



Next day the patient's general condition was little changed. The 

 neighbourhood of the wound was somewhat oedematous. Wishing to 

 examine the state of the upper inguinal region and intra-abdominal 

 portion of the cord, I had the animal fixed, without, however, casting 

 it. The hind limbs hobbled, I proceeded to rectal exploration. In 

 the pre-pubic zone, opposite the left inguinal ring, I found a kind of 

 diffuse, rounded, smooth -surfaced swelling, larger than a man's two 

 fists, and about four inches thick. This swelling was indolent or 

 nearly so, and uniforml}' hard. No fluctuating point could be dis- 

 covered with the fingers. The cord which emerged from it was 

 scarcely enlarged. These are not the characters of an abdominal 

 scirrhus ; in that affection the neighbourhood of the inguinal ring is 

 seldom much swollen, whilst the cord itself is large and hard. 



Funiculitis, therefore, having been eliminated, with what condition 

 had we to deal ? It could only be a tumour or an abscess. The 

 absence of pain on pressure, uniform hardness, and slightly bosselated 

 surface of the swelling rather indicated a new growth than an abscess. 

 On the other hand, the swelling of the corresponding hind limb, and 

 the interference noted in regard to movement, might be explained b}- 

 either theory, on the basis of the disease having extended. 



On being informed of the discoveries I had made, and of the gravit}' 

 of the condition, the owner granted me full permission to operate 

 further if I thought it advisable. The following days the swelling of 

 the inguinal region remained stationary, but that of the limb gradually 

 increased. The temperature oscillated between ioi*3° and 102*8" F., 

 in addition to which there was depression and loss of appetite. 



The 5th September, after examining the sw^elling per ycctiiin, and 



