184 HORSE, SWINE AND POULTRY DISEASES 



Treatment. This consists in removing at once the exciting 

 cause. The secretions of the ulcers should be washed off with anti- 

 septic solutions and the formation of granulation tissues stimulated 

 by antiseptic salves, such as carbolated vaseline, lead ointment, or 

 by dressings of camphor. Air should be kept from the ulcer by 

 occlusive dressings. Where the ulcers are inflamed, warm lead water 

 or lead water and laudanum will be found efficacious. Callous ulcers 

 are best removed by a curet, knife, or hot iron and then treated like 

 a common wound. Mechanical irritation should be avoided. 



ABSCESSES. 



These consist of accumulations of pus within circumscribed 

 walls, at different parts of the body, and may be classed as acute, 

 and cold, or chronic, abscesses. When an abscess occurs about a hair 

 follicle it is called a boil or furuncle ; when several hair follicles are 

 involved, resulting in the formation of more than one exit for the 

 inflammatory products, it is called a carbuncle. 



ACUTE ABSCESSES. 



Acute abscesses follow as the result of local inflammation in 

 glands, muscular tissue, or even bones. They are very common in 

 the two former. The abscesses most commonly met with in the horse 

 (and the ones which will be here described) are those of the salivary 

 glands, occurring during the existence of strangles, or colt distemper. 

 The glands behind or under the jaw are seen to slowly increase in 

 size, becoming firm, hard, hot, and painful. At first the swelling is 

 uniformly hard and resisting over its entire surface, but in a little 

 while becomes soft at some portion, mostly in the center. From this 

 time on the abscess is said to be pointing, or coming to a head, which 

 is shown by a small elevated or projecting prominence, which at first 

 is dry, but soon becomes moist with transuded serum. The hairs over 

 this part loosen and fall off, and in a short time the abscess opens, 

 the contents escape, and the cavity gradually fills up. 



Abscesses in muscular tissue are usually the result of bruises or 

 injuries. In all cases where abscesses are forming we should hurry 

 the ripening process by frequent hot fomentations and poultices. 

 When they are very tardy in their development a blister over their 

 surface is advisable. It is a common rule with surgeons to open an 

 abscess as soon as pus can be plainly felt, but this practice can scarcely 

 be recommended to owners of stock indiscriminately, since this little 

 operation frequently requires an exact knowledge of anatomy. It 

 will usually be found the better plan to encourage the full ripening 

 of an abscess and allow it to open of itself. This is imperative if the 

 abscess is in the region of joints, etc. When open, we must not 

 squeeze the walls of the abscess to any extent. They may be very 

 gently pressed with the fingers at first to remove the pus, but after 

 this the orifice is simply to be kept open by the introduction of a clean 

 probe, should it be disposed to heal too soon. If the opening is at 

 too high a level another should be made into the lowest portion of the 

 abscess so as to permit the most complete drainage. Hot fomenta- 

 tions or poultices are sometimes required for a day or two after an 



