CAPPED HOCK. 319 



persons who would like to give up a workable horse so long as a 

 sharp blister — the most effective one in the end — would require. 

 On this account a sweating blister is commonly preferred ; which 

 ought to be sponged off as soon as it has elicited discharge, and the 

 sponging repeated daily, and then a horse after a week or so may be 

 taken to work again. Stimulating as a blister is, its application had 

 better be suspended so long as any inflammatory disposition is con- 

 tinuing ; and even then, when applied, it will be found at first to 

 augment the tumour, and in some cases considerably. Physicking 

 and fomentation — and blood-letting if necessary — will however 

 soon again reduce it, and then will follow sensible and comparatively 

 speedy diminution of the swollen cap. 



PUNCTURATION OF THE Cap. — In the instance of any enormous 

 enlargement of the cap, it may become advisable to give exit to the 

 contained fluid ; though, for my own part, I feel it my duty to say, 

 this is an operation which experience has taught me to defer to 

 the latest possible period. I have had so many reasons for aver- 

 sion to puncturing the distended cap that nothing but sheer neces- 

 sity now drives me to it. A very small (surgeon's) trocar is the 

 best instrument to use for drawing off the fluid ; and, first, an aper- 

 ture should be made upon the superior side of the tumour, letting 

 the inflammatory consequences from that subside before any attempt 

 be made to make a similar perforation opposite to it, through the 

 inferior parietes of the tumour. To prevent the upper orifice 

 from closing, it may be probed daily, to let off any collected 

 fluid ; also the inferior opening, after it is made, may for a time be 

 served so likewise ; and, when irritation has sufficiently subsided, 

 a seton of some twisted silk may be run through the cavity of the 

 cap. This will produce suppurative action, should it not have 

 come on before ; and after such action has become completely esta- 

 blished, and is on the decline, the withdrawal of the seton will 

 probably be followed by the granulative process, closing the aper- 

 tures and obliterating the sac ; leaving after all, however, more or 

 less thickening and induration of the cap. This, at least, is the 

 desired progress and termination of the case. Now and then, how- 

 ever, matters go on very differently. Inflammation and swelling 

 to an alarming degree follow puncturation of the cap ; the limb 



