INFLAMMATION OF Tlir: VEIN 241 



will form in the tumour ; and tlien our object should be to hasten its for- 

 mation by warm fomentations, poultices, or stimulating embrocations. 

 As soon as the matter is formed, which may be known by the softness of 

 the tumour, and before it has time to spread around and extend into the 

 neighboui'ing parts, it should be evacuated. JSTow comes the whole art of 

 treating poll-evil ; tlie opening into the tumour must he so contrived that all 

 the matter shall run out, and continue afterwards to run out as quickly as 

 it is formed, and not collect at the bottom of the ulcer, irritating and 

 corroding it. This can be effected by a seton alone. The needle should 

 enter at the top of the tumour, penetrate through its bottom, and be 

 brought out at the side of the neck, a Httle below the abscess. Without 

 anjrthing more than this, except frequent fomentation with warm water, 

 in order to keep the part clean, and to obviate inflammation, poll-evil in 

 its early stage will frequently be cured. 



If the ulcer has deej^ened and spread, and threatens to eat into the ho-a- 

 ments of the joints of the neck, it may bo necessary to stimulate its surface, 

 and perhaps painfully so, in oi-der to bring it to a healthy state, and dis- 

 pose it to fill up. In extreme cases, some highly stimulating application 

 may be employed, but not the scalding mixture of the farriers of the olden 

 time. All measures, however, will be inefi'ectual, unless the pus or matter 

 is, by the use of setons, or by a free and extensive incision, perfectly 

 evacuated. The apijlication of these setons or the making the incision will 

 require the skill and anatomical knowledge of the veterinary surgeon. In 

 desperate cases, the wound may not be fairly exposed to the action of the 

 caustic without the division of the ligament of the neck. This may be 

 effected with perfect safety ; for although the ligament is carried on to tho 

 occipital bone, and some streng-th is gained by this prolongation of it, the 

 main stress is on the second bone, and the head will continue to be sup- 

 ported. The divided ligament, -also, will soon unite again, and its former 

 usefulness will be restored when the wound is healed. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE VEIN, 



It is usual and proper, after bleeding, to liring the edges of the wound 

 carefully together, and to hold them in contact by inserting a pin through 

 the skin, with a little tow twisted round it. In ninety-nine cases out of a 

 iiundred the wound quickly heals, and gives no trouble ; but in a few 

 instances, from using a blunt instrument, or a dirty or rusty one ; or 

 striking too hard and biTiising the vein ; or, in the act of pinning up, 

 pu-Uing the skin too far from the neck and suflermg some blood to insinuate 

 itself into the cellular texture ; or neglecting to tie the horse up for a 

 little while, and thus enabling him to rub the bleeding place against the 

 manger and tear out the pin ; or from the animal being worked imme- 

 diately afterwards ; or the reins of the bridle rubbing against it ; or sevei-al 

 blows having been clumsily given, and a large and ragged wound made ; or 

 fi'om some disjDOsition to inflammation about the horse (for the bleeder is 

 not always in fault), the wound does not heal, or, if it closes for a little 

 while, it re-opens. A slight bleeding appears — some tumefaction com- 

 mences — the edges of the orifice separate, and become swollen and red — 

 a discharge of sanious bloody fluid proceeds from the wound, followed, 

 perhaps, in a few days, by purulent matter. The neck swells, and is hot 

 and tender both above and below the incision. The lips of the wound 

 become everted — the swelling increases, particularly above the wound, 

 where the vein is most hard and cordy — the horse begins to loathe his 

 food, and little abscesses form round the orifice. The cordiness of the vein 

 rapidly increases. Not only the vein itself has become obstructed }ijid its 



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