469 



will soon show symptoms of fever — shivering, coldness of the extremi- 

 ties, weakness, restlessness, quick, feeble pulse, sighing breathing, etc. 

 The treatment in such cases must be jarompt and energetic. Stimu- 

 lants, such as whisky with milk and eggs, are to be frequently given. 

 Quinine and salicylic acid, of each 1 dram, should also be administered 

 twice a day. The burned surface must be immediately bathed with 

 equal parts of lime-water and linseed oil, and afterwards dredged 

 with as much flour as can be made to adhere. If these can not be 

 obtained cover the i^arts with flour paste, layers of cotton, or any- 

 thing to exclude the air. Nitrate of silver, 5 grains to the ounce of 

 water, or carbolic acid, 1 part to 50 of water, afford great relief if 

 frequently applied. When the slough takes place we must supi)ort 

 the animal's strength with good food and tonics, and treat the raw 

 surface the same as other granulating wounds. 



ABSCESSES. 



These consist of accumulations of pus within circumscribed walls, 

 at different parts of the body, and may be classed as acute, and cold 

 or chronic abscesses. 



Acute abscesses follow as the result of local inflammation in glands, 

 muscular tissue, or even bones. They are Very common in the two 

 former. The abscesses most commonly met with in the horse (and 

 the ones which will be here described) are those of the salivarj^ glands, 

 occurring during the existence of " strangles " or "colt distemper." 

 The glands behind or under the jaw are seen to slowly increase in 

 size, becoming firm, hard, hot, and painful. At first the swelling is 

 uniformly hard and resisting over its entire surface, but in a little 

 while becomes soft — fluctuating — at some portion, mostly in the center. 

 From this time on the abscess is said to be ' ' pointing " or ' ' coming 

 to a head," which is shown by a small elevated or projecting promi- 

 nence, which at first is dry, but soon becomes moist with transuded 

 serum. The hairs over this part loosen and fall off, and in a short 

 time the abscess opens, the contents escape, and the cavity gradually 

 fills up — heals by granulations. 



Abscesses in muscular tissue are usually the result of bruises or 

 injuries. In all cases where abscesses are forming we should hurry 

 the ripening procees by frequent hot fomentations and poultices. 

 When they are very tardy in their development a blister over their 

 surface is advisable. It is a common rule with surgeons to open an 

 abscess as soon as j)us can be plainly felt, but this i>ractice can 

 scarcely be recommended to owners of stock indiscriminatelj^ since 

 this little operation frequently requires an exact knowledge of anat- 

 omy. It \^ill usually be found the better plan to encourage the full 

 ripening of an abscess and allow it to open of itself. This is imj)era- 

 tive if the abscess is in the region of joints, etc. When open, we 

 must not squeeze the walls of the abscess to any extent. They may 



