CHAPTER II. 
SEROUS BURS. 
ié 
TRAUMATIC LESIONS. 
Wounds of serous burs do not essentially differ from those of the 
cellular tissue, except by the flow of a fluid of synovial aspect, which might 
make one fancy an articular lesion. The clinical characteristics combined 
with the anatomical data allow one in all cases to recognize the nature 
of the disease. The gravity of the trauma depends on its extent, its aseptic 
or infectious character, and the properties of the pathogenous agents de- 
posited in it. 
The treatment must be antiseptic: clipping of the hair around it, 
irrigation with a strong disinfecting solution, in some cases sutures and a 
closing dressing. If inflammatory manifestations occur, free opening and 
treatment of abscesses are required. 
Bruises of serous burse have a varied progress. A violent blow may 
rupture their walls and bring on the escape of the fluid they contain 
into the surrounding connective tissue. Sometimés extravasation of 
blood takes place in the cavity of the burs, or an acute hygroma is 
formed. 
These accidents should be treated first with cool applications and after- 
wards with moist heat and pressure. Blisters, firing, puncture, free in- 
cisions with asepsis are the means recommended for obstinate hema- 
tomas, Suppuration demands an early opening. 
II. 
HYGROMAS—BURSITIS. 
The ordinary causes of inflammation of serous bursz are violent or 
repeated traumatisms, inflammation of surrounding parts (phlegmon, 
lymphangitis, arthritis) and certain general morbid conditions (rheuma- 
tism, strangles, purulent infection). In the great majority of cases hygro- 
mas are due to mechanical causes: the action of the heel of the shoe 
pressing on the elbow when the animal lies down, the pressure and the 
rubbing of parts of the harness on the withers or the poll of the head, 
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