SEEOUS ABSCESS.] 



THE flOBSE, AND 



[the knee. 



once, puncture with a lancet, and fire in the 

 manner represented in the engraving, entitled 

 Capped Hock. Whilst using the above reme- 

 dies, give a mild dose or two of physic. 



SEROUS ABSCESS. 



This kind of tumour is produced by various 

 causes, and is situated at the point of the 

 elbow. It sometimes grows to an amazing 

 size, even to that of a child's head. Serous 

 abscesses are not always alike in their contents, 

 Bome of them containing a yellowish fluid, and 

 that in a considerable degree. This may be 

 discovered by the undulating feeling they have 

 when pressed between the thumb and finger. 

 Others are hard, will not yield to pressure, and 

 sometimes approach to callosity. Both kinds 

 are generally produced in heavy dray-horses 

 by their lying down on rough paved stables, 

 and frequently when they double their fore 

 feet up under them. The large calkins of the 

 shoes then just come in contact with the point 

 of the elbow, and a bruise will produce them. 

 They may sometimes be caused by kicks, but 

 this is not usually the case. If it were so the 

 horse would instantly go lame, whereas by 

 bruising gradually, the disease continues grow- 

 ing, and may produce lameness. 



In treating for these tumours, supposing 

 they contain the serous fluid, take up the skin 

 in the most dependent part, and make an orifice 

 with the seton scissors to let out the fluid. 

 Then insert the finger, as if preparing to place 

 3n a tent, which should be done with tow, 

 smeared over with the following digestive oint- 

 ment: 



No. 1. 

 Sulphate of Copper, finely powdered . 1 drachm. 



Common Turpentine 2 ozs. 



Hog's Lard 4 do. 



Melt the turpentine and the lard together' 

 and when nearly cold, sprinkle in the sulphate 

 of copper. Or, 



No. 2. 



Red precipitate 4 drachms. 



Common Digestive Ointment . 4 ozs. 

 "What is here meant by the common digestive 

 ointment, is the turpentine and hog's lard alone. 



This will promote a healthy discharge, if the 



first recipe does not. Keep this open for a 

 week or nine days. If the parts should swell 

 much, foment them three or four times a day, 

 with flannels dipped in hot water, until the 

 swelling abates. Professor Spooner treats this 

 tumour in the follovring manner. " If the col- 

 lection of fluid be not extensive, we may first 

 endeavour to disperse it by external stimu- 

 lants ; in this attempt, however, we shall gene- 

 rally fail, when we must evacuate it by making 

 a considerable opening, so as to admit a free 

 escape of the fluid, which will again form ; or 

 what will still be better, we may insert a seton 

 through the tumour. After this a solution of 

 blue or white vitriol should be injected, so as 

 to stimulate the sides of the cavity and pro- 

 duce an altered action. After some time pus 

 will be secreted instead of serum, and then the 

 part will soon get well." 



The hard kind of tumour must be treated in 

 another way ; and the only way it can be, to be 

 effectual, is, at once to make an incision down 

 the middle of the tumour, and dissect it com- 

 pletely out, then insert a pleget of tow, smeared 

 with No. 1 ointment above, and sew up the 

 wound until within an inch and a half of the 

 bottom, which orifice must be kept open during 

 the suppurative process; but when that has 

 stopped, dress as for a common wound, with 

 compound tincture of myrrh. 



THE KNEE. 

 Sometimes enlargements on the knee take 

 place, but they are of little consequence. — A 

 itumour about the size of a walnut formed on 

 the knee of a horse. It was punctured with a 

 very small abscess lancet, the matter squeezed 

 out, the part blistered, and the horse ordered 

 to be turned out. In a month, he came up, 

 and no person could discover the place that 

 either the puncture or blister had made. The 

 horse was of great value. The same line of 

 practice we would recommend in all similar 

 cases, as it is simple, and not likely to be 

 attended with much danger; whereas a more 

 complicated course might be followed by 

 evil consequences. AVhere a simple mode 

 will eff"ect our object, it is always best to 

 adopt it. 



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