58 THE ARMY HORSE TN ACCIDENT AND DTSEASE. 



layer of the skin or it may involve the deeper structures. In the latter 

 case it is of a serious nature and requires careful attention. 



Treatment. — If possible, give the animal complete rest. Clip the 

 hair from the injured parts, at the same time removing any torn skin; 

 wash with some good antiseptic, such as solution of creolin or carbolic 

 acid, and apply a <lusting powder, such as zinc oxide or iodoform, the 

 former preferably. Apply a pad of clean cotton and secure with a 

 cotton bandage; change the dressing daily. Should the parts be slow 

 in healing, an occasional dressing of tincture of iodine is beneficial, and 

 good results are often obtained by alternating this with a dressing of 

 olive oil 3 parts and creolin 2 parts.. Should proud flesh appear, the 

 three sulphates (iron, copper, and zinc) may be used, or powdered 

 copper sulphate alone. Use until the granules disappear. When the 

 wound begins to heal nicely, it is better to dispense with the pad and 

 bandage. 



ABSCESSES. 



An abscess is an unnatural collection, in the tissues, of fluids, 

 such as pus or serum. It is the result of inflammation caused by 

 an injury or by the infection of pus germs. The swelling usually 

 softens at some point, unless it be filled with serum, in which case it 

 is soft and fluctuates at all points, and lies directly beneath the skin. 



Soft, puffy swellings in the neighborhood of joints and t^'ndtms 

 should not be mistaken for abscesses, as they are usually bursal 

 enlargements, filled with synovia, and recpiiring different treatment. 

 (See "General treatment of sprains.") 



Treatment. — A pus abscess, if slow in development, should be 

 poulticed until it softens at some part where it can be opened by 

 cutting through the skin; then insert a blunt instrument through 

 the wall into the p\is cavity, thus avoiding any danger of injury 

 to blood vessels or other structures. When freely opened, the 

 cavity should be flushed out twice daily with some antiseptic solution, 

 care being exercised to prevent the external wound from healing 

 before the formation of the pus has ceased. In ever}^ case provision 

 must be made ff»r free drainage at the lowest point. 



A serous abscess (one in which we find the yellowish, watery, 

 and often bloody serum) is treated as follows: Clip the hair away 

 and wash the skin with an antisej)tic; with an instrument that has 

 been thoroughly disinfected make a small opening; after all fluid 

 has escaped appl}' a blister of biniodi<le of mercury, 1 to 6, over the 

 outside of the area occupied by the original swelling. If it fills again, 

 repeat the treatment. 



Soft, puffy swellings on the abdominal wall must be carefully 

 examined. They may be the results of rupture, in which case open- 

 ing would be fatal. 



