42 CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



discovering that it showed the same characteristics as before, I cast 

 the horse on the right side, and drew the left hind hmb as far out- 

 wards as the swelhng allowed. The inguinal region and surrounding 

 parts were washed with warm water and soap, and afterwards irri- 

 gated with sublimate solution. With a bistoury I enlarged the wound 

 in the direction of the long axis of the inguinal ring, cutting through 

 the layer of hardened tissue surrounding the edges of the ring. A few 

 vessels which bled rather freely were picked up with artery forceps. 

 Having thus opened the inguinal canal, I enlarged the space by 

 breaking down the connective and fibrous tissue which fills its lower 

 part. Arrived at its middle portion without finding any traces of the 

 spermatic cord, I was arrested by a strong partition running obliquely 

 from above downwards and backwards, a partition which projected at 

 its centre point, and through which I distinctly made out fluctuation. 

 With a sudden thrust of the left index finger perpendicular to the 

 general surface of the centre of this partition, I perforated it. A flood 

 of whitish, creamy pus immediately escaped through the lower inguinal 

 ring. To enlarge the aperture I cut through the lower part of the 

 partition with a bistoury. The abscess cavity was enormous, extend- 

 ing particularly in the direction of the inguinal space. It did not 

 contain four quarts of pus, as the prosector entrusted with the dressing 

 has stated, but certainly at least two quarts. 



The pocket was washed out with warm 2 per cent, creolin solution. 

 Bleeding, which at first had been rather severe, soon ceased. A large 

 drainage-tube was placed in the inguinal canal, its upper end entering 

 the cavity of the abscess. The lips of the incision were brought 

 together with four sutures, one of which was passed through the 

 drainage-tube itself, about two inches from its lower extremity. 



On rising the animal appeared to be greatly relieved, as one may 

 very well imagine, and when returned to its box at once began to eat. 

 During the evening the pus cavity was again twice washed out through 

 the drainage-tube. 



Next day the general condition was greatly improved. The animal 

 had eaten all its food ; weight was firmly placed on the limb, which, 

 however, was still swollen, and the temperature was only a few tenths 

 of a degree above normal. 



During the following days improvement steadily continued. The 

 swollen limb gradually diminished in size. As in most cases of infected 

 wounds in the inguinal region, a fairly large oedematous swelling 

 developed around the surgical incision, without, however, showing any 

 disquieting character. Treatment was confined to washing out the 

 abscess cavity with disinfectants. 



