474 



graniilar cliloride of zinc, 1 ounce to a half pint of water. This should 

 be injected three times during one week, after which a weak solution 

 of the same, or sulphate of zinc, is to be occasionally injected. Pres- 

 sure must be applied /roni helow, and endeavors made in this manner 

 to heal the different pipes /ro?7i the bottom. Should the bones of the 

 withers or the shoulder blade be diseased the complication is again 

 serious, and these must be scraped or portions of them removed, 

 requiring the aid of the veterinary surgeon. 



In those cases of fistula where the tumor is large and hard, yet not 

 sufficiently defined to admit of extirpation with the knife, Ave may 

 often effect a cure by making a shallow incision under the skin, over 

 the center of the tumor, and inserting from 20 to 30 grains of arse- 

 nious acid— powdered arsenic— wrapped in a single layer of tissue 

 paper, and retaining in the same manner as before directed for the 

 caustic potassa. No further treatment is necessary for some time. 

 In about ten days or two weeks there will have taken place a large, 

 deep slough, leaving a very ugly looking granulating wound, which, 

 however, gradually contracts during the healing process and results 

 in the entire disappearance of the tumor. 



It is to be inferred from the foregoing that, even though fully estab- 

 lished, fistula? of the withers or poll are, in the majority of cases, cur- 

 able. They often require much time and patient attention. The 

 sinuses must be opened at their inferior extremity and kept open. 

 At first caustic injections or applications must be thoroughly applied 

 once or twice, after which mild astringent antiseptic washes and 

 cleanliness complete the cure. In those cases where the sinuses or 

 pipes are so directed that counter openings can not be made, wliere 

 there are diseased conditions of the bones, articulations, etc., that can 

 not l)e reached, the horse had often best be destroyed at once. 



It is not at all unusual for fistula? to break out again after having 

 healed. This should not discourage us of a complete cure, as there 

 is mostly only some small particle of diseased tissue remaining, caught, 

 probably, in the healing of ttie orifice. A small abscess forms, points, 

 and open's. This abscess should be injected with a solution of sul- 

 phate of zinc, 20 grains to the ounce of water, every second or third 

 day until entirely healed. 



Fistula? of the foot— quittor— should 1)0 ti-eated on the same prin- 

 ciple as those already described. 



AVhen fistulous tracts are found at unusual points we must care- 

 fully examine the character and time of the discharges, and diligently 

 probe the sinus to ascertain if the duct of some gland lias not been 

 opened, or if some foreign body, as a splinter of wood, etc., is not 

 retained in the wound. In the first case— fistula of a gland duct— a 

 competent veterinarian must be called. In the second instance the 

 foreign body is to be carefully cut down upon and removed, after 

 which healing progresses rapidly and satisfactorily. 



