ABSCESS. 77 



an accident, heal in any other manner than by granulation. Hence 

 in these cases, the free escaj^e of pus should be provided for, by 

 opening out the wound, if practicable; or by passing a seton 

 through it. The part should be liberally bathed with a warm 

 antiseptic solution. 



If a scab which has formed over a sore be wounded, if it becomes 

 loose before healing is complete, or if fluctuation can be detected 

 under it, it should be removed by poultices, or by bathing in warm 

 water, in order to allow the escape of i3us, and the exposed surface 

 should be treated with tannoform, iodoform, or some other suitable 

 antiseptic. But if the wound under the scab be healthy, it should 

 on no account be interfered with. 



In the early stages of bruises, we may often, by the aid of 

 massage (p. 664) cause absorption of the fluid which gives rise to 

 the swelling, and thus arrest the formation of jdus ; but if suppura- 

 tion has already set in, we must give vent to the pus by the knife 

 without delay; for the longer it remains, the greater will be the 

 destruction of the healthy tissue, which can never be replaced 

 except by grafting, which is a difficult operation to perform success- 

 fully in the horse. We should have recourse to poultices only 

 when the exact position of the pus is doubtful. That being deter- 

 mined, the knife should be used. 



If the injury be accompanied by sympathetic fever, or if the horse 

 be in gross condition, he should be put on bran mashes, and may 

 get a dose of aloes or Epsom salts. But if he is in a debilitated 

 state, his strength should be kept up by liberal feeding. 



Abscess. 



DEFINITION. — An abscess is a collection of pus (p. 15) enclosed 

 within some portion of the body. 



VARIETIES.— Abscesses may be divided into two kinds : acute, 

 in which the inflammation is actively and manifestly at work ; and 

 chronic, in which the jDrocess of the formation of pus proceeds 

 slowly and without marked symptoms of heat and tenderness, as 

 in "bastard strangles" (p. 467). 



The pus in an abscess may become circumscribed in a sac, or may 

 spread indefinitely, until it gains an exit, or until it meets with some 

 effective barrier. In the former case, the collection of pus is said 

 to be a circumscribed abscess ; in the latter, a diffuse abscess. An 

 abscess may also become checked in its development, or may dry up, 

 and after undergoing degeneration, may become more or less ab- 

 sorbed without further trouble. 



I shall allude later on (" pyasmia," p. 532) to the constitutional 



