Strangles, Infectious Rhino- adenitis. 93 



To soothe the inflamed air-passages it is well to steam them 

 with the vapor of hot water to which has been added an antiseptic 

 such as oil of tar, tar, phenic acid, or creolin. This may be 

 placed in a bucket, and a bag with its bottom cut so as to form a 

 tube drawn over the bucket and nose of the horse. It may be 

 continued an hour or more at a time, or a nasal douche of creolin 

 (1:100) may be employed. In case of tardy softening of the 

 submaxillary swelling it may be assiduously fomented, or cov- 

 ered with a linseed meal or other poultice to which a little 

 antiseptic (carbolic acid, creolin) has been added. It may be 

 applied on a cotton hood having holes for eyes and ears and 

 furnished with ends to tie back of the ears and down the middle 

 of the face. If still indolent the swelling may be rubbed with 

 soap liniment or smeared with soft soap, or finally a cantharides 

 blister may be applied. 



As soon as any indication of softening or fluctuation is detected 

 a free incision should be made to allow the exit of the pus. This 

 further tends to hasten the liquefaction and removal of the adja- 

 cent exudate. If the pus lies near to the surface, with little more 

 than skin to penetrate, it may be freely incised with one thrust of 

 the knife, but if there is intervening glandular or other tissue, 

 the skin only should be first incised, and the connective tissue 

 bored through with the finger nail, or the point of a sterilized 

 director, or of closed scissors. In this way the important vessels, 

 nerves and salivary ducts are pushed aside and troublesome bleed- 

 ing and salivary fistula alike avoided. 



Fever usually subsides on the opening of the abscess, but if it 

 fails to do so, or if it reappears from slight absorption of septic 

 matters it may be desirable to favor elimination by small doses of 

 sodium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride, or potassium nitrate. 

 In extreme cases a few doses of acetanilid may be given, or full 

 doses of quinia. 



When the discharge from nose or abscess threatens to persist, 

 such agents as sulphur, yellow or black sulphide of antimony, 

 are given with bitters, but a more prompt effect can usually be 

 had from injections of weak solutions of creolin, cresyl, lysol, 

 etc. When the cough is troublesome it may be quieted by bella- 

 donna, or, in case of weakness of the heart, by digitalis. 



The various complications require treatment appropriate to 

 their nature. Collections of pus in the nasal sinuses may de- 



