446 CYCLOPEDIA OP LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCIOB. 



those on the ribs and belly mature in the shortest time above mentioned; 

 and those in the levator humeri muscles (found just inside and in front of 

 the Joints of the shoulders) take the longest time to mature. In fact, the 

 latter sometimes acts like a tumor by its slow growth, hardness and length 

 of time it takes to break out without outside assistance. 



When opened, the pus runs out, and the abscess usually heals readily; 

 but sometimes the healing process requires a great deal of assistance, and 

 the abscess is liable to start anew and develop others as soon as one is 

 healed, unless the cause is removed by pui-ifying the blood. 



What to do. — Give a purgative of recipe No. 2S, and when it has stopped 

 purgiug, give No. 34 for a week or so. Poultice the abscess with any 

 hot, soft poultice — linseed meal is the best — till it points, (comes to a 

 head), in a soft spot ; then tap it with a pointed knife, and evacuate the 

 sac ; make the opening big enough to allow a finger to be passed in ; see 

 that all is clear for a thorough emptying ; then inject warm water to wash 

 it out, and inject No. 5. Repeat this twice a day. Make the opening at 

 the bottom, if possible, to allow the pus to gravitate out, instead of having 

 to be squeezed out. The abscess in the levator humeri muscle is always 

 deep-seated in the muscle, and requires a great length of time to rot out. 

 It is easily recognized by its position, being inside and a little to the 

 front of the point of the shoulder. It is useless to wait for it to come to 

 a head ; open it at once. Take a long-bladed scalpel or pocket knife and 

 run it in directly into the center of the tumor, letting the knife be par- 

 allel with the horse's body ; then there is no danger of tapping the jugu- 

 lar vein. It is necessary, usually, to cut about four inches deep before 

 reaching the pus, but when once emptied it heals very readily. 



V. Erysipelas. 



This is inflammation of the skin. It may be superficial and omy 

 involve the upper layers of the skin, or it may be deeper-seated and 

 involve the under layers. The superfi nal does not suppurate, but the 

 deep-seated usually does, with more or less sloughing. It is often 

 thought to be contagious, which it undoubtedly is to a small degree ; but 

 not suflSciently so to be ranked as a specific blood poison. It some- 

 times rages as an enzootic — common in any certain district. It usually 

 follows wounds, injuries and sores, but sometimes comes on apparently 

 healthy skin. 



Causes. — It is due sometimes to the weather, when it is damp, hot and 

 oppressive, with thunder frequent and low barometeric pressure, especi- 

 ally if the horse is kept in low, filthy places. Poorly fed, thin, neglected 

 animals are most subject to it. The sudden suppression of a chit>nic 

 discharge, and feeding on rich, heating food when the animal has been 



