WOUNDS ANr> THKIH TREATMENT. 501 



The cavity should bo thoroughly waslieil with stimnhitin": anti- 

 septic sohitions, such ay 3 ])er cent sohition of carbolic acid, 3 per cent 

 bolution of compound cresol, 1 to 1,00U bichlorid of mercury, or 1 per 

 cent pennanjjanate of potasli solution. If the abscesses are foul 

 and bad smelling;, their cavities should first be syrinired with 1 part 

 of hydn)«;en peroxid to 2 })arts of water and then followed by the 

 injection of any of the above-mentioned antiseptics. 



COl.D ABSCESSES. 



Cold abscess is the term applied to those large, indolent swellings 

 that are the result of a Ioav or chronic form of inflammation, in the 

 center of which there is a small collection of pus. They are often 

 seen near the i)oint of the shoulder, forming the so-called breast boil. 

 The swelling is difl'use and of enormous extent, but slightlj^ hotter 

 than surrounding paiiis, and not veiy painful upon pressure. A 

 l)ronounced stillness, rather than pain, is evinced upon moving the 

 animal. Such abscesses have the appearance of a hard tumor, sur- 

 rounded by a softer edematous swelling, involving the tissues to the 

 extent of a foot or more in all directions from the tumor. This dif- 

 fused swelling giadually subsides and leaves the large, hardened 

 mass somewhat well defined. One of the characteristics of cold ab- 

 scesses is their tendency to remain in the same condition for a great 

 length of time. There is neither heat nor soreness; no increase nor 

 lessening in the size of the tunuir; it remains in statu <iuo. If, how- 

 ever, the animal should be i)ut to work for a short time the irrita- 

 tion of the collar causes the surrounding tissues to assume again an 

 edematous condition, which after a few days' rest disapi)ears, leaving 

 the tumor as before or but slightly larger. Up(m careful manipula- 

 tion we may discover what api)ears to be a fluid deep seated in the 

 center of the mass. The quantity of inatrc!' so contained i- verv^ 

 small — often not more than a tablesj)0(mfnl — and for this reason it 

 can not, in all cases, be detect^Ml. 



Cold abscesses are mostly, if not always, caused by the long- 

 continued iiiitation of a loose and badl}' fitting collar. There is a 

 slow inflamnuitory action going on, which results in the formation of 

 a small (piantity of matter inclosed in very thick and but partially 

 organizecl walls that are not so well definetl as is the circunifcience 

 of fibrous tumor.s, which they most re*;emble. 



Treatment. — The means recommended to bring the acute al)scess 

 '* to a head '■ are but rarely effectual with this variety; or, if success- 

 ful, too much time lias been occupied in the cure. We must look for 

 other and more rapid methods of ti'eatment. The.se consi.st, first of 

 all, in carefully exploiing the tumor for the presence of pus. The 

 incisions must be made over the softest part and carried deep into the 

 tumor — to its verv bottom, if necessarv — an<l the matter allowed to 



