PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 357 



Diagnosis of Suppuration by Blood Cultures. (See 

 Chapter on Hasmatology). 



PROGNOSIS. — The seriousness of abscess depends upon 

 its location. Collections of pus are always grave when lo- 

 cated in the neck, shoulders, withers, poll or limbs, and the 

 gravity is still greater when the abscess is deep-seated. Ab- 

 scesses of the pharynx may lead to asphyxia; those of the 

 pelvis may obstruct the expulsion of excrement; those of 

 the sheath may prevent the emission of urine, etc., without 

 taking into acount the numerous complications which they 

 may provoke. Idiopathic abscesses are less grave than 

 those which are the manifestations of a general malady, — 

 strangles, glanders, tuberculosis, etc. 



TREATMENT.— Abcesses being so frequently the re- 

 sult of a summary infection of wounds, the first requisite 

 is to prevent them by keeping wounds aseptic. When a 

 phlegmon is terminating in the formation of an abscess, and 

 attempts at aborting it have failed, it is necessary to wait un- 

 til it is "ripe" before opening it. Formerly, especially in hu- 

 man medicine, efforts were made to abort the process by 

 medical means, or rather by premature tapping, but this mode 

 of treatment has had its day. Incisions into undeveloped ab- 

 scesses may be followed by relapses. Today the "ripening" 

 of the phlegmon is hastened. Hot baths are certainly the 

 best preparatory remedy for abscesses in the limbs. In other 

 regions blisters are often used in veterinary practice. This 

 expedient hastens the progress by augmenting the inflam- 

 matory phenomena at the affected point. Emollients such 

 as poppy ointment, camphorated pomade and preparations 

 of vaseline, without having the properties of a blister possess 

 an unquestionable alleviating action. When fluctuation ap- 

 pears, the abscess should be tapped. The opening should 

 be made with the bistoury, the cautery or the trocar. The 

 operation is much more urgent when the pus collection. 



