154 VETERINARY SURGICAL THERAPEUTICS. 
ing widely tissues destitute of all protection, in which septic elements 
can find a good soil. Even in former times, infectious complications 
were much feared : before incising, the condition of the walls of the 
‘cavity were modified. To-day, we know how to avoid those complica- 
‘tions ; and the incision of the pouch made at the dependent part, the 
fixing in the wound of a short drain which permits the escape of the 
‘serosity as it is secreted, and the strong antiseptic injections (chloride 
of zinc, carbolic acid or creolin 5 %, corrosive sublimate, 1 in 500) all 
constitute our best treatment. For collections of small dimensions, we 
ordinarily use an iodine injection or needle cauterization, 
The old practice, which consisted in plugging the cavity with oakum, 
must be put aside. But, like Adam, one may, in some cases resort to 
antiseptic plugging, incise the pouch, empty it, remove the clots that it 
contains, and fill it with carbolated cotton dusted with iodoform. 
Among cattle, one most often meets with the primitive effusion of 
serosity on the external face of the stifle (Trinchera, Eletti, Furlanetto). 
Sometimes the serous collection appears voluminous, at others the 
growth is slow and gradual. In the beginning, its characteristics are 
the same as among solipeds: when it lasts a certain time, its walls 
indurate. Spontaneous absorption is observed only in recent and small 
collections. 
It is easy to differentiate these subcutaneous sero-sanguineous col- 
lections from the hydarthrosis of the stifle, 
The therapeutics is the same as in the case of horses. Notwith- 
standing Furlanetto recommends the application of ointment of bi- 
chromate of potassium, one may have recourse immediately to incision, 
apply a drain, and make irritant injections into the cavity, in preference 
to strong antiseptic solutions. 
SECTION II. 
I. 
CHILBLAINS—FROST-BITES—CONGELATIONS. 
The action of cold upon the organism ordinarily produces chil- 
blains towards extremities—-legs, ears, tail. It can also give rise to 
general troubles and sudden death. 
In animals, chilblains are seen only during severe winters. During 
the cold season, the skin of solipeds is covered with a thick coat of 
hair, which not only protects them against atmospheric low tempera- 
tures but also prevents the loss of organic ‘heat. 
The horse which receives sufficient food, and which has a full hairy 
coating, possesses a very great resistance to cold. In Algeria, during 
the winter of 1845-1846, during an expedition into the mountains of 
