LV.MPHAN(.;iTIS AND iMlT.TIFI.K Al'.SCESSES IN THE HORSE. 99 



sinus which communicated with a subcutaneous conduit exactly corre- 

 sponding with the depilated line aboxe mentioned. It discharged 

 whitish, thin, slightly viscous pus, similar in character to that always 

 formed in lymphatic vessels or glands. The lower parts of the limb 

 showed relativel}- little cedematous swelling. The wound on the 

 pastern was about two and a half to two and three quarter inches long, 

 and half an inch across. . 



These wounds had no resemblance to ulcers, and neither they nor 

 the lymphatic vessels were surrounded by much induration. The 

 animal had not suffered from any disease for years, and its general 

 condition was excellent. 



For the purpose of bacteriological examination I punctured an 

 abscess on the inner surface of the forearm, and with a sterilised 

 pipette collected a little pus, which I sowed on gelatine and potato. 

 At the temperature of the lecture room colonies of Staphylocvccus albiis 

 developed. 



The clinical course of these lesions differed from those usually seen 

 in glanders. An injection of mallein produced a very trifling reaction. 

 After puncturing the abscesses treatment consisted in antiseptic injec- 

 tions into the sinus. On the i6th December the swelling and wounds 

 on the near fore-limb still showed the same characters. 



On the i8th we discovered on the outside of the right thigh, a 

 little behind and above the patella, a hot, sensitive cedematous 

 swelling, the centre of which showed fluctuation. It was punctured 

 aseptically, and some pus collected for cultivation. The cultures gave 

 colonies of the same staphylococcus. The animal received daily in its 

 food one and a half ounces of bicarbonate of soda in the morning, and 

 two and a half drachms of sulphate of quinine at night. 



On the 20th December a warm, painful swelling was noted in the 

 region of the extensor muscles of the right forearm, suggesting the 

 formation of an abscess. Next day (edematous enlargement appeared 

 below the elbow, examination of which revealed the presence of 

 fluctuation in the depths. The abscess was punctured and some of 

 the pus sown on gelatine and potato. The Staphylococcus alhus was 

 again found to be the only micro-organism present. 



Finally, eight days later, a fresh suppurating centre, also produced 

 by the same microbe, formed on the right side of the neck. 



The wounds having healed and the lymphangitis disappeared, the 

 horse returned to ordinary work. It has not since been seen ; but some 

 months later we were told that it had not developed any further 

 abscesses, its svstem, therefore, appeared to have become entirely 

 free from staphylococci. 



