STRANGLES.* 161 



after it has pointed, and do not suffer it to break of itself, for 

 that causes sloughing or ulceration of the integument, the con- 

 sequence of which will be a large, irregular, ragged hole in the 

 skin that will require considerable time to fill up, keeping 

 the horse therefore so much longer under treatment. As for 

 dressings, anything containing warmth and moisture will 

 serve the purpose. After evacuating the abscess I apply 

 fomentations or poultices, and encourage as much discharge 

 as possible. As for the healing, that will always take place 

 readily enough without any assistance from us. The animal 

 soon recovers his appetite and vivacity. Only grant time, 

 and all will do well. 



Treatment of Supplementary Disorder. — This must 

 be adapted to the nature of the disorder, and other inci- 

 dental circumstances. To lay down any precise rules would 

 be presumption. The most usual accompaniment of strangles 

 is catarrh. Indeed strangles occasionally assumes the 

 catarrhal character; and in the nasal flux will discharge 

 itself. Now and then the tumour, instead of forming exter- 

 nally, occupies a situation within the throat, where we can 

 neither see or reach it. As it enlarges, the animal expe- 

 riences difficulty of breathing, until, becoming almost choked, 

 by an effort to relieve itself the abscess is burst ; purulent 

 matter then issues from the mouth and nose ; the horse is 

 easy, and mostly does well. Any discharge there may be 

 from the nose is, therefore, to be encouraged ; should the 

 animal be able to endure some confinement of his breath, 

 the nostrils should certainly be well steamed. In the event 

 of there being much difficulty of breathing, this is a remedy 

 which cannot be tolerated. Should the case take an unfa- 

 vorable turn, affecting textures about the head, and causing 

 such tumefaction that the respiratory organs act with diffi- 

 culty, our treatment must be decided. The smallest delay 

 is now attended with peril. If the enlargement comes on 

 rapidly, the swollen parts may be first scarified, and then 

 fomented ; but we must bear in mind that the disorder is 

 one which throughout its stages is highly debilitating. 

 Therefore, the disease will be aggravated by deple- 

 I. 11 



