166 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



Serous Abscess. — A variety of abscess seen usually 

 about the breast of horses, and arises from injury fol- 

 lowed by the pouring into the injured part, a serum from 

 the blood, and not being absorbed readily, it, therefore, 

 remains there in the form of a large ovoid flattened bag, 

 which a blind man, who never saw a tumor, can tell it 

 contains fluid. Indeed, wherever dropsical swellings are 

 not absorbed, a serous abscess will be formed. 



Treatment. — Open it with a large knife, or with a 

 small one, making a large opening through the skin, 

 only at the lowest soft part, so the serum will run out 

 without pressing. Inject once or twice with cold water, 

 and anoint the^skin to prevent it from cracking or be- 

 coming dry. 



Seton. — A piece of tape placed under the skin by 

 means of a needle, made for the purpose. Setons are 

 rarely of use, and are often torn violently out, making 

 an ugly sore. 



Shivers. — So called because the horse is seized wdth 

 tremor of the muscles of the whole body, when any 

 attempt is made to push the horse back. The tail is 

 erect as in cases of locked-jaw. 



Causes. — Tumors on the ventricles of the brain. 



Shoeing of Sound* Feet. — Most diseases of the 

 feet, and every stumble is, either directly or indirectly, 

 the result of bad shoeing. Ilorse-shoers have long been 

 in the habit of using the knife and rasp too freely to 

 keep feet sound very long so. When the shoe is carefully 

 removed, the wall or crust, where a well seated shoe 

 should only rest, should be ger^tly rasped to remove 

 fragments of loose horn and old nails. In deep, well- 

 made feet, the sole recjuires paring out till it is in the 



