FISTULA IN THE WITHERS. 197 



This is a summary mode of healing, and therefore is an ex- 

 cellent plan of treatment where it can be practised. The 

 objection is, that it is not often we can put it into successful 

 practice. It is the motion of the parts that forms a reason 

 why sinuses do not heal with readiness ; and it is the same 

 motion which constitutes the objection to the application of 

 pressure. However, I am happy to announce that more may 

 be effected in this way than we are aware of. Mr. Alex, 

 Gray, V.S., Edinburgh, appears to have done much towards 

 rescuing our reputation from the imputation of unskilfulness, 

 as will be evident from two cases he has published in the 

 fifth volume of ' The Veterinarian,^ which I shall here 

 transcribe : 



"About the year 1816, I was in the habit of attending the stud of the 

 late Earl of Morton. Being at Dalmayhoy one day, I met his lordship's 

 land-steward : he asked me to go to the farm, and look at a bay cart-mare, 

 which they had consigned to the kennel. I accordingly went, and saw the 

 said animal, and found the top of her neck much enlarged, accompanied by 

 two deep sinuses, which, upon inquiry, I found to have been running for 

 the last twelve months, nothing having been done, with the exception of 

 cleaning away the matter. I proposed to the steward that she should be 

 sent to my own stable, so that she might be more under my own imme- 

 diate care ; and that I would give her a fair trial, not with the infernal 

 scalding mixture, but upon scientific principles ; and I am proud to record, 

 that the result fully answered my most sanguine expectation. 



" The mare was sent to me, and I proceeded to examine the extent of the 

 disease. I found two deep sinuses, one on each side of the neck, the bones 

 of which could be distinctly felt with the probe. After cleaning away the 

 matter, I took a scalpel, and laid both orifices open in an oblique direction 

 downwards } then, having fomented the parts with warm water, I dressed 

 the wounds with tincture of myrrh and aloes; and in order to apply />res5?fre 

 to the parts (for in this I founded all my hope of success), I had two pieces 

 of wood prepared, about twelve inches long and three broad, thicker in the 

 middle than at the edges, which were rounded off, and also a long flannel 

 bandage four inches broad, I then placed two pledgets of tow next the 

 wounds, putting on the pieces of wood one on each side, and then applied 

 the bandage over all, and as tightly as I could without impeding degluti- 



' This "laying open of both orifices" liadj however, much to do with the 

 " cure," verifying the principles I have ah-eady laid down, in speaking of the 

 treatment both of fistula and poll-evil. 



