BUKNS AND SCALDS. 109 



SYMPTOMS. — At first the swelling is about the size of a mole ; 

 hence the German name, Maidwurftgeschwulst (mole-swelling). 

 It is soft, gives the feeling of being full of fluid, and is more or 

 less hot £iiid painful. In the event of successful treatment, all 

 inflammatory symptoms may subside. If the diseased process 

 continties, the swelling becomes hard and dift'use. Owing to the 

 pain which movement of the part causes, the sufferer carries his 

 head stifily. Abscesses form, break out on the surface of the skin, 

 and burrow deeply down so -as to involve bone and muscle. Death 

 may occur from exhaustion and from pus gaining entrance into 

 the spinal canal. 



TREATMENT.— Treat as for abscess (p. 79). A seton will 

 generally act well. Feed from a raised manger and not from 

 the groimd. A horse with poll evil should not be turned out to 

 grass ; for retaining the head for a long time in a low position 

 would seriously interfere with the animal's chances of recovery. 



Burns and Scalds. 



VARIETIES OF BURNS.— These injuries are as follows : Bvrm 

 of the first degree, in which only hair has been consumed and a 

 slight inflanujiafioh of the skin set up. Burns of the second 

 degree, in which blisters and pustules have been produced. Burns 

 of the third degree, in which the skin has becorne charred, with or 

 without grave results. 



TREATMENT. — A burn or scald injures by nervous shock, and 

 produces a wound, which should be treated antiseptically (p. 67), 

 so that it may heal up with the formation of as little pus as 

 possible. If blisters appear, draw off the fluid by introducing a 

 needle under the skin about half an inch beyond the margin of 

 the lowest point of the blister, so that the fluid (serum) may be 

 pressed out through the passage made by the needle, without air 

 being permitted to enter the sac. This is done in order to retain 

 the cuticle of the injured part, as a protection to it. To render 

 the needle free from germs, it may, before using it, be kept in 

 boiling water for about five minutes, and then allowed to cool. 

 If the skin be merely reddened or blistered, apply iodoform oint- 

 ment, zinc ointment, glycerine, sweet oil, castor oil, or carron oil, 

 and keep it covered over with antiseptic cotton-wool for a few 

 days. If the skin be injured, with or without implication of the 

 underlying tissues, treat the injury antiseptically as an ordinary 

 wound likely to heal with as little suppuration as possible. Apply 

 tanrioform, iodoform, or oxide of zinc freely over the part, and 



