455 



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

 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 hour as can be made to adhere. If these can not be obtained 

 cover the parts with flour paste, layers of cotton, or anything 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 support 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 j 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 salivary glands, 

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

 glands behind or under the jaw are seen to slowly increase in size, be- 

 coming 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 prominence, 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 granu- 

 lations. 



Abscesses in muscular tissue are usually the result of bruises or in- 

 juries. In all cases where abscesses are forming we should hurry the 

 ripening i^rocess 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 pus can be plainly felt, but this practice can scarcely be recom- 

 mended to owners of stock indiscriminately, since this little operation 

 frequently requires an exact knowledge of anatomy. It will usually 

 be found the better plan to encourage the full ripening of an abscess 

 and allow it to open of itself. This is imperative 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 be very gently i)res8ed with the fin- 

 gers at first to remove the clots — inspissated pus — but after this the 

 orifice is simply to be kept open by the introduction of a whalebone 

 probe, should it be disposed to heal too soon. If the opening is at too 

 high a level another should be made into the loivest. portion of the ab- 



