HYGROMA 43 



The contents of an hygroma of the withers are, in the 

 beginning, either a bloody serum or an amber-colored, 

 sticky fluid. Later there is found in this fluid variable 

 quantities of flat, or discoid, masses. These resemble 

 adipose tissue, are quite flrm and from one-eighth to two 

 inches in their greatest diameters. Pus formation is 

 probably the result of the degeneration of these masses. 



Hygroma is differentiated from the tumefaction of 

 fistula : 



1. By the history of the case. Hygroma usually de- 

 velops very rapidly. 



2. By the "wind-puff-like" tenseness of the swelling. 

 Treatment. Hygroma of the withers in existence not 



longer than three or four days can be treated successfully 

 with the use of prolonged hot or cold baths and astrin- 

 gent, cooling lotions. The animal must be kept as quiet 

 as possible whUe under treatment. Work or exercise 

 makes the treatment of no avail. The baths may be 

 either hot or cold and should be given at least twenty 

 minutes out of each hour of the day. Several days of 

 such bathing or fomenting, in conjunction with lotions 

 of lead acetate, are in many cases sufficient to cause the 

 dispersion of the swellings. The treatment is then fin- 

 ished with iodin paintings twice daily for a few days. 

 Cases that do not yield to this treatment, or those in 

 which the tumefaction is only dispersed in part, must 

 be treated in a surgical manner. 



The swellings are incised at their most prominent 

 points, making a good, free incision, thus allowing the 

 escape of fluid and discoids. The cavity is then irri- 

 gated with an antiseptic solution and packed with gauze 

 saturated with equal parts of oil of turpentine and lin- 

 seed oil. This packing is allowed to remain for twenty- 

 four hours, at the end of which time it is removed and 

 the wound receives no treatment further than that every 



