500 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



- ABSCESSES. , 



These consist of accumulations of pus within circumscribed walls, 

 at different parts of the body, and may be classed as acute and cold 

 or chronic abscesses. 



When an abscess occurs about a hair follicle it is called a boil or 

 furuncle ; when several hair follicles are involved, resulting in the 

 formation of more than one exit for the inflammatory products, it is 

 called a carbuncle. 



ACUTE ABSCESSES. 



Acute abscesses follow as the result of local inflammation in glands, 

 muscular tissue, or even bones. They are. very, common in the two 

 former. The abscesses most commonly met with in the horse (and 

 the ones which will be here described) are those of the salivary 

 glands, occurring during the existence of "strangles," or "colt dis- 

 temper." The glands behind or under the jaw are seen to increase 

 slowly in size, becoming firm, hard, hot, and painful. At first the 

 swelling is uniformly hard and resisting over its entire surface, but 

 in a little while becomes soft (fluctuating) at some portion, mostly 

 in the center. From this time on the abscess is said to be "pointing," 

 or "coming to a head," which is shown by a small elevated or pro- 

 jecting, prominence, which at first is dry, but soon becomes moist with 

 ;transuded- serum. The hairs over this part loosen and fall off, and in 

 a short time thp abscess opens, the contents escape, and the cavity 

 .gradually fills up^heals by granulations. 



Ajbscesses in. muscular tissue are usually the result of bruises or in- 

 juries. In all cases in which abscesses are forming we should hurry 

 the ripening process by frequent hot fomentations and poultices. 

 When they, are very tardy in their development a blister over their 

 surface is advisable. It is a common rule with surgeons to open an 

 abscess as soon as pus can be plainly felt, but this practice can 

 scarcely be recommended indiscriminately to owners of stock, since 

 this little operation frequently requires an exact knowledge of anat- 

 omy. It will usually be found the better plan to encourage the full 

 ripening of an abscess and allow it to open of itself. This is impera- 

 tive if the abscess is in the region of joints, etc. When open, we 

 must not squeeze the walls of the abscess to any extent. They may 

 be very gently pressed with the fingers at first to remove the clots — 

 inspissated pus — ^but after this the orifice is simply to be kept open 

 by the introduction of a clean probe, should it be disposed to heal too 

 soon. If the opening is at too high a level another should be made 

 into the lowest portion of the abscess so as to permit the most com- 

 plete drainage. Hot fomentations or poultices are sometimes re- 

 quired for a day or two after an abscess has opened, and are particu- 

 larly indicated when the base of the abscess is hard and indurated. 



