240 VETERINARY SURGICAL TILERAPEUTICS. 
VI. 
FURUNCLE—ANTHRAX. 
Circumscribed infectious inflammations of the skin, ending in suppura- 
tion and the formation of sloughing cores, are somewhat common in 
animals. In furuncle, the inflammation is limited to small cutaneous 
spots: the tumor resulting from it is small, conical and very painful ; it 
suppurates and is followed by the slough of its necrosed center. Furun- 
culosis is observed in all domestic animals. Zundel has observed it in 
horses which, having been accustomed to good care and little work, have 
been called to heavy service; in army reformed horses, in animals which 
after working for grain and seed dealers have been disposed of, and also 
in reduced and exhausted animals. We have often observed it on various 
parts of a dog, and on horses on the lower parts of the hind legs. 
Ordinary anthrax is but a voluminous, diffuse furuncle; extending to the 
subcutaneous connective tissue, or an inflammatory tumor formed by con- 
fluent furuncles. Like the generality of human surgeons and of foreign 
veterinarians, we have no hesitation, notwithstanding the etymology, to 
apply this word to lesions which have nothing in common with anthrax 
(charbon). 
Bacteriology has shown that furuncle and anthrax are promoted in man 
by the same micro-organism, the staphylococcus pyogenes aurens. In the 
furuncle “the infectious organism enters by the opening of a pilo-sebace- 
ous follicle . . . if several neighboring each other are affected the furuncle 
becomes an anthrax ” (Broca). 
Basilicon ointment, mercurial frictions, laurel ointment and poultices 
must be left aside. The disinfection of the region carefully made, first 
with soap and water, then with tepid antiseptic solutions (corrosive 
sublimate, carbolic acid or cresyl), and above all, lotions or atomizing 
vapors of these solutions and also warm compresses (50°) covered with an 
impermeable protection, constitutes the best treatment of the furuncle. 
These antiseptic compresses have all the advantages of poultices and 
none of their inconveniences. With them pain subsides, redness dimin- 
ishes and the lesion is circumscribed. For inferior regions of the legs 
antiseptic baths are to be particularly recommended ; they can be given 
two or three times a day and their action completed with compresses. 
In the case of anthrax the preceding form of treatment may be followed 
alone or preceded by the early incision of the tumor, according to the 
seriousness of the lesions, If purulent collections develop in the neighbor 
