THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 381 



muscles, causing these structures to be absorbed ; and it 

 is fortunate that, by an apparent conservative law of 

 animal life, such absorption is most active towards the 

 surface of the body, thus aiding the evacuation of its 

 contents, which can be effected without prejudice to the 

 constitution. 



The Treatment of Abscess. — In the early stages of such 

 tumours, endeavour to forward them through the applica- 

 tion of warmth and moisture, both of which are gained by 

 a poultice. A blister may likewise be applied to the surface, 

 and a poultice over that, when it is very important to draw 

 the abscess forward. Horse poultices, on account of their 

 magnitude, are generally formed of bran, upon which boil- 

 ing water is poured, and the whole well stirred together ; 

 or a very good poultice may be formed of hay soaked in 

 hot water, any excess of moisture being squeezed out after- 

 wards. About a gallon of substance is sufficient for one 

 application. Being assured that maturation is completed, 

 the thickness of the integuments, and the fear of the exten- 

 sion of the suppurative process inwards, make it always 

 prudent to form an artificial opening in the more dependent 

 as well as prominent part of the tumour. This may be 

 done by direct section. Incision is effected by the abscess 

 knife ; but in every case the opening should be sufficient to 

 give a ready exit to the matter which has formed, and that 

 which may subsequently be secreted. In some situations, 

 as where the natural outlet has appeared on a place we do 

 not desire it should point in, or where the abscess does not 

 point upon the precise spot we could have wished, it may be 

 prudent to make an incision in the natural prominence, 

 and insert a seton through the place we could desire the 

 fulness should have occupied. It is, however, necessary to 

 be careful in making the incision when it dips downwards, 

 that it is made in the course of the muscular fibres, and not 

 in the direction of considerable branches of nerves or blood 

 vessels. 



Nothing further need be done for the eradication of an 

 abscess than the establishment of a free depending orifice. 

 Putting the finger into the opening and stirring it round 

 is unnecessary, to say the least of it. All injections are 

 objectionable, to speak of them in the mildest terms. 

 Should, however, the sac of an abscess display an indis- 

 position to contract after its contents have been evacuated. 



