352 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



— lameness, roaring, etc. — according to the organs afifected. 

 Preceding the clinical study of deep abscesses it may be 

 advantageous to consider pus collections which gather in 

 the extremities, the rectum and the phar5mx with reference 

 to their frequency and their gravity, making of them a group 

 of abscesses of which an accurate knowledge is essential. 



(a) Abscesses of the Limbs. — Abscesses at the lower ex- 

 tremities of the limbs announce their presence by intense 

 lameness and the appearance of an oedematous swelling. The 

 thickness of the skin on the limbs, and the existence of an 

 unyielding" aponeurosis, make these abscesses behave much 

 the same as the genuine deep variety, and, if ignored, the 

 pus spreads along the tendons, leads to considerable detach- 

 ment, and sometimes to irreparable accidents. 



(b) Abscesses of the Rectum. — Pelvic Abscesses. In this 

 form of abscess the mischief is often first revealed by a lame- 

 ness in one of the hind legs, followed at about the same time 

 by a hot, painful obstruction, especially pronounced about the 

 pudendum. The anus is more or less displaced, defecation 

 difficult or impossible, and the general symptoms always 

 very grave. They are frequent among colts suffering from 

 strangles. 



(c) Abscesses of the mouth and pharynx are the conse- 

 quence of the insertion of foreign bodies in the buccal mu- 

 cosa, or the remains of former sore throats. The movements 

 of the head, neck and shoulders are limited and painful, and 

 the muscles of the neck and shoulders are contracted. The 

 parotid region and throat are the seat of a very accentuated 

 obstruction. The patients are subject to roaring, deglutition 

 is painful or impossible, and the pyrexia and.-other general 

 symptoms are pronounced. 



PROGRESS. — The progress of abscesses is variable. 

 Some of them develop in eight days, while others delay 

 several weeks before maturing. Generally speaking, the 



