92 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



The rectum was relieved of its contents by the following enema: 



Powdered aloes, 4 drachms, 



Hot water, 2 quarts, 



Common salt, 1 drachm. 



March 2. The tumefaction has fearfully increased and spread, 

 yet is very hard ; the animal makes a distressing noise in efforts 

 to breathe ; stands in a fixed posture, with the head elevated, 

 unable to move it. 



Treatment. — Prepared a poultice of slippery elm, linseed, 

 lobelia, and poplar bark, which was moistened with water and 

 vinegar, equal parts. This was quilted between two pieces of 

 cloth, with a view of distributing it over a large surface, and then 

 applied and confined around the throat. The head was also 

 steamed with a mixture consisting of four ounces of tincture of 

 lobelia, and one pint of vinegar, poured upon a red-hot brick held 

 beneath the nose. This appeared to give some relief. 



March 3. This morning, the slaver flows out of the swollen 

 mouth, and there is a slight discharge of matter from the nostrils ; 

 the animal appears in great agony, and is almost suffocating. On 

 removing the poultice, the tumor appeared very tense, yet soft at 

 a point near the thyroid cartilage : on striking a spring lancet 

 into it, a volume of purulent matter, streaked with blood, issued, 

 and continued to run in a perfect stream ; the orifice was after- 

 wards enlarged with a button-pointed bistoury. The quantity of 

 matter discharged was beyond any thing we had ever seen before, 

 amounting to several pints, and, to judge from the collapse of 

 the surrounding parts, must have occupied a large space in the 

 cellular tissue. Relief was immediate, and the poor horse seemed 

 to manifest gratitude by looks and actions not to be mistaken. 

 On offering him a little thin gruel, he drank it greedily, and looked 

 round for more ; and no wonder, for during the past thirty-six 

 hours he had not tasted any thing. 



Treatment. — The discharge of the pus was accelerated by ap- 

 plying a broad bandage drawn moderately tight around the parts. 

 The diet to consist of scalded bran and oatmeal. 



Visited the patient again in the evening, when the bandage 

 was removed, the parts cleansed, and afterwards sponged with a 

 cold infusion of bayberry bark — astringent. Gave the following 

 draught : — 



