go CLINICAL Vf:TERINAKV MKDICINE AND SURfJERV. 



Although there was no clinical sign pointing to farcy the animal was 

 injected with mallein. The result was as I had foreseen ; no local 

 reaction followed, and the temperature rose only half a degree. I had 

 collected with the usual precautions some pus for bacteriological 

 examination and cultivations. The microscope revealed a few staphy- 

 lococci, and the tubes of gelatine which we sowed gave a pure culture 

 of the Staphylococcus albiis. 



Treated by injections of dilute sublimate solution the abscesses 

 rapidly healed. No others formed. The animal's general health was 

 excellent, and to explain the production of these multiple abscesses 

 I see no other possible hypothesis than infection of the blood by 

 some pyogenic microbe which had multiplied in the wound in 

 the foot and given rise to the lymphangitis. Against that may be 

 urged the time ^^•hich elapsed between the acute phase of the hmph- 

 angitis and the appearance of the abscesses, but well-established facts 

 show that secondary suppurative lesions may occur after a much 

 longer time. Many other microbes besides staphylococci may cause 

 disturbance after remaining dormant for weeks, months, or even 

 years. 



The second case is not less interesting than the first, and shows 

 like it that the Staphylococcus alhus ma}- be the sole cause of secondary 

 abscesses developing far from the primar}- centre. A fifteen-year-old 

 Percheron mare suffering from circumscribed gangrenous inflammation 

 on the near fore-pastern was received into hospital on the 6th December, 

 1895. The eschar was removed, and the wound appeared about to 

 heal when diffuse lymphangitis extended throughout the limb, the 

 swelling became enormous, sensibility excessive, and interference with 

 movement ver}- marked. The first abscess formed on the inner surface 

 of the knee, and opened spontaneously. During the next few days the 

 wound on the pastern presented a less favourable appearance ; it dis- 

 charged freel}- ; its margins were swollen and painful. The swelling 

 next invaded the upper portions of the limb, extending as high as the 

 shoulder. Soon afterwards the hair was shed over a line extending 

 from the wound on the knee. On this line, which corresponded to the 

 course of the inflamed lymphatics, five subcutaneous abscesses deve- 

 loped;- and were opened in succession. Close to the point of the 

 shoulder was a circular swelling, denuded of hair, and measuring an 

 inch or more in diameter, produced by another superficial abscess. 



The wound on the knee, circular in form, and as large as a florin, 

 became covered with firm health3--looking granulations. Its margins 

 projected slightly above the surrounding skin, and its centre showed a 



