RADICAL CURE OF FlSTDLA. 133 



alterative ball there set clown. Success more generally attends this first mc 

 thod in the present kind of tumour than in that to which I have just referred 

 viz. poll-evil ; but this method of curing both is so exactly similar, that it would 

 be a waste of words to go over the same grounds again, or make the same ob- 

 servations which I thought proper to set down under that head of information. 

 At page 116, the reader will perceive, that when he is attempting to repell the 

 tumour and allay the inflammation in its earliest stages, he is to employ a 

 cooling regimen ; that when the disorder has been brought on by a trivial 

 cause, this method of cure seldom fails, if taken in time ; and also that fistula 

 is easier prevented hereby than is poll-evil. " However this be, when the dis- 

 order is found to baffle the endeavours employed to disperse it, (as 1 before ob- 

 served), the whole course of proceedings must be altered ; " the regimen, or 

 feeding must be higher, the parts encouraged to collect matter and come to the 

 surface, instead of making inroads upon the adjacent muscle and bone, which 

 it will etfect more hideously as the animal may be afflicted with a gross habit 

 of body. 



After having found all efforts useless, the practitioner will change his plan ; 

 and force the matter to escape as soon as may be ; for the disorder is every 

 hour extending its baleful influence. For this purpose the knife, or common 

 bistoury, is to be employed when the tumour is sufficiently ripe, which is a 

 state it may be brought to, by means of the applicationof a poultice. Of thesCj 

 I prescribed two or three kinds, with the method of fastening them on, but in 

 this latter respect, a material difference arises in consequence of the different 

 shape of the parts. The bandage in this case must be allowed to come farther 

 back, and be there detained by tying the tapes short behind and lengthening 

 the front ones. See figure at page 118. 



Fomentations of warm water, in which cloths have been steeped, shghtly 

 wrung out and applied to the parts, will be found highly serviceable, and may 

 precede the application of poultice. When by these means the tumour ap- 

 pears ripe and ready, open the most prominent part with lancet or bistoury, 

 and insert a whalebone probe to ascertain the direction that the fistulous sinu- 

 ses or pipes extend, in order that these may be laid open, and the whole mat- 

 ter suffered to escape. In some cases a stiffer and larger probe may be em- 

 ployed, and when a sinus lies favourable, introduce the probe, and cut down 

 upon it. But as to the lowermost sinus, when it tends towards the shoulder, 

 so as to interfere with the action thereof, the knife is not to pass through it, 

 but a seton is to be inserted in its lowest or most depending part, so that the 

 matter may escape through. 



As directed in the previous case of poll-evil at page 1 19, the knife should be 

 fearlessly applied in severing any small bits of muscle that may appear to grow 

 across the cavity ; a touch of the knife will be sufficient for any purpose, as 

 by keeping open the lips of the wound, all that belongs to this diseased part 

 will slough off, and should be wiped away as before directed, every time new 

 dressings are applied. Let the seton be soaked in the mixture of corrosive 

 sublimate and alcohol as directed at the page just referred to; and in the worst 

 cases apply either of the scalding mixtures in the manner mentioned at page 



120, and repeat the same if the first does not accomplish all that is desired 

 The operator in this case will not fail to use the proper precautions as re- 

 gards the application of those scalding hot remedies, nor neglect to remove the 

 matter that is discharged from the wound, in the manner set forth at pago 



121. Most frequently the lips or edges of the sore are thickened, and assume 

 a very inflamed and ulcerous appearance; this should be reduced by the knife 

 or caustic, or it becomes so luxuriant at times as to close the onfice, and to 

 cause a renewal of the fistula, in which case you have all your trouble to go 

 ;»ver again. At Alfort, they have a very neat method of cleaning out fistuloajB 



