ABSCESS. 109: 
ever, have not been encouraging. In the generality of cases, the sur- 
faces, thus prepared and opposed to each other, continue to suppurate. 
Sometimes the tissues, where the abscess has developed, remain tume-- 
fied for a long time and become indurated. The best treatment for 
such consecutive indurations, is cauterization with penetrating points, 
The “ hemorrhagic phlegmon” of oxen is generally produced by pricks 
of the goad with which they are driven ; sometimes it has been observed 
after a violent blow, and also without any well known cause (Guittard). 
In some cases it is on the outside, in others it is deeply situated in mus- 
cular interstices. 
It is characterized at first by a large, diffused, renitent swelling, more 
or less painful, which later becomes fluctuating. It is easily distin- 
guished from serous collections and from the crepitating tumors of 
symptomatic anthrax. 
CoLp apscesses differentiate from the preceding by a weak degree 
of inflammatory reaction, or its absence altogether. The nature and 
etiology of these are no less complex than of those of an acute charac- 
ter. Zuberculous abscesses, so common in the human species, are excep- 
tional in our domestic animals. 
When multiple tumors develop rapidly and simultaneously in various 
regions of the body, they are not always, as often supposed, cold puru- 
lent collections. Sometimes they are true neoplasms; sub-cutaneous 
sarcomas may develop somewhat rapidly, and resemble cold abscesses. 
We have observed a remarkable case of this kind among horses. 
Hard cold abscesses, frequent among horses, in regions which support 
the various parts of the harness (point and anterior border of the 
shoulder, poll, superior part of the neck, withers, girth) do not get well 
except by puncture. The central purulent collection in them is often of 
small size ; and several probings may be necessary to open it. These 
probings are made with the straight, narrow-bladed bistoury, which is 
thrust deep into the tumor. As soon asthe centre of the abscess is 
reached, if the pus exists in any quantity it escapes this way to the 
surface. But the white (J/anche) puncture, which fails to bring out pus, 
does not necessarily mean that the abscess has no pus : often the 
bistoury does not reach the spot where it is, or passes alongside of it, 
or the pus is so thick and caseous that it has no tendency to escape 
through the way thus made. One need not hesitate to make new punc- 
tures, and several tracts towards the centre of the indurated mass ; in 
most cases the purulent cavity will be reached finally. But if the prob- 
ing still remains fruitless, the inflammation which it causes is not with- 
‘out a useful effect ; the pyogenic process is quickened, and the pus, 
increasing in quantity, finally appears through one or another of the 
