XVI.— LYMPHANGITIS AND MULTIPLE ABSCESSES IN 

 THE HORSE, DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF 

 STAPHYLOCOCCI. 



In explaining to you the modern doctrine of suppuration, I stated 

 that all suppuration seen in our patients is the work of certain mi- 

 crobes, chief aniongst which are the Staphylococcus albiis and aureus and 

 the streptococci — other varieties occurring much less frequently. The 

 microbes enter the tissues by many paths, the commonest being 

 cutaneous or mucous wounds. Very trifling abrasions, often con- 

 cealed by the hair and practically imperceptible, may serve as points 

 of entry. Sometimes they simply produce a local abscess, at others 

 they enter the lymph channels, causing lymphangitis or abscess forma- 

 tion in neighbouring or far-removed lymphatic glands, according to 

 the condition of the lymph channels. Occasionally they enter the 

 circulation, are swept along by the blood, and give rise to varying 

 mischief, according to their degree of virulence. In this way strepto- 

 cocci and staphylococci produce the metastatic abscesses of pyaemia, 

 and the microbe of strangles induces the majority of abscesses seen 

 during the course of this disease. 



In my part of the hospital you have seen two horses in which 

 staphylococci have thus caused abscesses in different parts. 



Some months ago a seven-year-old Percheron horse, in which I 

 had removed the lateral cartilage of the off fore-foot on account of 

 quittor, showed four days after operation very marked swelling of the 

 limb, especially pronounced below the knee — a swelling which ex- 

 tended to the forearm, and caused me to fear the existence of deep- 

 seated abscess in this region. All danger of immediate complications 

 vv^as however removed by the use of warm antiseptic baths, iollowed 

 by iodoform dressings ; the operation wound healed steadily, swelling 

 of the limb at the same time diminishing. 



The lymphangitis had completely disappeared when a fortnight 

 later we discovered a number of small abscesses 'scattered about tlfe 

 neck, sides, and limbs. Of what nature were these abscesses ? 



