DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 479 



often proved very beneficial, and has afforded great relief to the 

 patient. 



Cooling- lotions, muriate of ammonia, or saltpeter and water; sedative 

 washes, such as tincture of opium and aconite, chloroform liniment, or 

 camphorated oil, are also to be frequently applied. Should this treat- 

 ment fail to check the progress of the trouble, the formation of i)us 

 should be hastened as rapidly as possible. Hot fomentations and 

 poultices are to be constantly used, and as soon as the presence of pus 

 can be detected, the abscess wall is to be opened at its loioest jpoint. 

 In this procedure lies our hope of a speedy cure. As with any simple 

 abscess, if drainage can be so provided that the pus will run off as 

 fast as formed without remaining within the interstices of the tissues, 

 the healing which follows will be rapid and satisfactory. 



Attention is again called to the directions given above as to the 

 necessity of probing the cavity when opened. If upon a careful 

 examination with the probe we find that there are no pockets, no 

 sinuses, but a simple, regular abscess wall, the indication for treatment 

 is to make an opening from below so that the matter must all escape. 

 Rarely is anything more needed than to keep the orifice open and to 

 bathe or inject the parts with some simple antiseptic wash that is not 

 irritant or caustic. A low opening and cleanliness constitute the 

 essential and rational treatment. 



If the abscess has already opened, giving vent to a quantity of puru- 

 lent matter, and the pipes and tubes leading from the opening are 

 found to be extensive and surrounded with thick fungoid membranes, 

 there is considerable danger that the internal ligaments or even some 

 of the bones have become affected, in which case the condition has 

 assumed a serious aspect. Or, on the other hand, if the abscess has 

 existed for some time without a rupture, its contents will frequently 

 be found to consist of dried purulent matter, firm and dense, and the 

 walls surrounding the mass will be found greatly thickened. In such 

 a case, we must generally have recourse to the application of caustics 

 which will cause a sloughing of all of the unhealthy tissue, and will 

 also stimulate a rapid increase of healthy organized material to replace 

 that destroyed in the course of the development and treatment of the 

 disease. Threads or cords soaked in gum-arabic solution and rolled 

 in powdered corrosive sublimate may be introduced into the canal and 

 allowed to remain. The skin on all parts of the shoulder and leg 

 beneath the fistula should be carefully greased with lard or oil, as this 

 will prevent the discharge that comes from the opening after the 

 caustic is introduced from irritating or blistering the skin over which 

 it flows. In obstinate cases a piece of caustic potash (fused) 1 to 2 

 inches in length may be introduced into the opening and should be 

 covered with oakum or cotton. The horse should then be secured so 

 that he can not reach the part with his teeth. After the caustic plug 



