NASAL GLEET, OR DISCHARGE FROM THE NOSE. 127 



tumour : — if that may be termed a root which is a mere duplicate of its investing 

 membrane. 



The polypus, when it han^s free in the nasal cavity, is usually of a pyriform or 

 pear-liUe shape ; and it varies in weight, from a few drachms to three or four pounds. 



How is the surgeon to proceed] Can he lay hold of the polypus by the finger, or 

 the forceps, or (fur these tumours do not possess much sensibility) the tenaculum'? 

 To ascertain this, he will cast the horse, and fix the head in a position to take the 

 greatest advantage of the light. If he cannot fairly get at the tumour by any of 

 these means, he will let it alone. It will continue to grow — the membrane consti- 

 tuting the pedicle will be lengthened — and the polypus will at length descend, and 

 be easily got at. Time and patience will effect wonders in this and many similar 

 cases. 



Supposing it to have grown, and the surgeon is endeavouring to extract it, he must 

 not use any great force. It must not be torn out by the root. The tumour must be 

 gently brought down, and a ligature passed round the pedicle, as high up as it can 

 conveniently be placed. If the polypus can then be returned to the nose, the animal 

 will suffer very little inconvenience ; and in a few days it will slough oft", and the 

 pedicle will contract, and gradually disappear. 



If the polypus is so large that it cannot be well returned after it has been brought 

 down, we must, notwithstanding, use the ligature, passing it round the pedicle suffi- 

 ciently tightly to cut off the supply of blood to the tumour. We may then imme- 

 diately excise it. Except the pedicle is exceedingly thick, there will be little or no 

 hsemorrhage. Should some bleeding occur, it will probably soon stop, or may be 

 stopped by the cautery, which should, however, be avoided if possible; for our object 

 is to produce as little irritation as may be in the membrane, and the actual cautery 

 will be applied with considerable difficulty in the cavity of the nose. 



In very bad cases, wlien the tumour cannot be drawn out of the nose, it may be 

 necessary to slit up the ala or side of the nostril. It will be better, however, not to 

 cut through the false nostril ; for that consists of a duplicature of such thin integu- 

 ment, that the stitches can hardly be retained in it, when the horse will be continually 

 snorting at the least inconvenience. It will also be difficult to bring the edges of this 

 thin membrane accurately together again; or if this be effected, there is scarcely life 

 enoufjh in it for the parts readily to unite. The false nostril should be avoided, and 

 the incision made along the lateral edge of the nasal bone, beginning at its apex or 

 point. The flap will then conveniently turn down, so as to expose the cavity beneath ; 

 and there will be sufficient muscular substance to secure an almost certain union by 

 the first intention. The nostril beino- opened, the pedicle will probably be displayed, 

 and a lifjature may be passed round it, as already recommended ; or if it is not act.u 

 ally in sight, it may probably gradually be brought within reach. 



NASAL GLEET, OR DISCHARGE FROM THE NOSE. 



There is a constant secretion of fluid to lubricate and moisten the membrane that 

 lines the cavity of the nose, and which, under catarrh or cold, is increased in quantity, 

 and altered in appearance and consistence. This will properly belong to the account 

 of catarrh or cold ; but that which is immediately under consideration, is a contiimed 

 and oftentimes profuse discharg-e of thickened mucus, when every symptom of calarrh 

 and fever has passed away. If the horse is at grass, the discharge is almost as green 

 as the food on which he lives ; — or if he is stabled, it is white, or straw-coloured, or 

 brown, or even bloody, and sometimes purulent. It is either constantly runninn-, or 

 snorted out in masses many times a day ; teazing the horse, and becoming a perfect 

 nuisance in the stable, and to the rider. This has been known to continue several 

 months, and eventually to destroy the horse. 



If the discharge is not offensive to the smell, nor mixed with purulent matter, it is 

 probably merely an increased and somewhat vitiated secretion from the cavities of the 

 nose; and, all fever havinsr disappeared, will frequently yield to small doses of blue 

 vitriol, given twice in the day. If fever or cough remains, the couijh medicine that 

 will hereafter be described must be combined with the tonic. If the discharge is 

 mingled with pus, and very offensive, the vegetable tonics, gentian and gin<rer, may 

 Be added to the copper ; but there is now reason to apprehend that the discharge will 



