lyo Veterinary Medicine. 



Treatment in the early stages may consist in incisions to pro- 

 cure the escape of the blood, gas and even of the exudate. 

 Later the main resort is the performance of tracheotomy and the 

 wearing of a tracheotomy tube. 



ABSCESS OF THE TRACHEA. 



This may occur as a localization of strangles, or as an exten- 

 sion of suppuration occurring in other tissues adjacent to the 

 trachea. With its habit of causing absorption, and of advancing 

 along the line of least resistance, the pus makes its way toward 

 the free mucous surface of the windpipe, and bursting, dis- 

 charges into its lumen, (Lafosse). In other cases it will dissect 

 upward or downward between the chondro-fibrous outer coat, 

 and the mucosa, and thus give rise to extensive, destructive and 

 dangerous lesions. ( Vogt, Raissac) . The pus may in this way 

 burrow as far as the mediastinum and even the lung, or again 

 that which has escaped into the lumen may descend by gravita- 

 tion into the bronchia, causing bronchitis or pulmonary abscess 

 (Cadeac). 



Symptoms. These consist in wheezing or stertorous breathing 

 (roaring), and the presence of a hot, painful, perhaps fluctuat- 

 ing swelling around the trachea or to one side of it. In case an 

 opening has been established into the trachea, compression of the 

 swelling may empty its purulent contents into the lumen to the 

 temporary relief of the dyspnoea and stertor. As the abscess is 

 refilled these symptoms reappear. A resort to tracheotomy may 

 give the means of a thorough exploration and a conclusive diag- 

 nosis. It may also be made subservient to a complete evacua- 

 tion, disinfection and successful treatment of the abscess. 



Treatment. Early lancing of the abscess, before a communi- 

 cation has been established with the interior of the trachea, is 

 the most important resort. The sac may be treated with anti- 

 septic injections daily until it has contracted and definitely 

 healed. In case of extensive dissecting abscess, several openings 

 may be necessary, and even the insertion of setons to secure a 

 free discharge and satisfactory healing. Rupture of the abscess 

 into the trachea, or an extension by dissecting as far as the root 

 of the lung is always to be looked on as a very grave complica- 

 tion, because of the danger of resulting pulmonary abscess. 



