494 SURGICAL DISEASES. 



just beneath the skin, and contain a thick, glairy, and trans- 

 parent fluid resembling white of egg. They are readily known 

 by their soft yielding feel, and by their evident want of con- 

 nection with the surrounding parts. Nothing but the knife is 

 of the slightest use, and, by cutting through them, the sac may 

 readily be torn out, each half at a time, taking care not to leave 

 a particle behind, as it is sure to grow again into another sac of 

 the same size as before. 



ABSCESSES. 



Abscesses, the result of inflammation, are very common in the 

 dog, and show themselves in the early stage as hard, painful 

 swellings, more or less deep, but gradually coming to the surface, 

 when the skin reddens, and they burst of themselves in the 

 course of time. Very often, however, the matter forms so slowly, 

 and has such a tendency to burrow among the muscles, that, if it 

 is not let out by the knife in the early stage, it produces great 

 exhaustion from the quantity formed. Matter may be detected as 

 soon as it is thrown out, by the sensation given to the fingers 

 of each hand called " fluctuation ; " that is to say, on pressing 

 one side of the swelling with the left hand, the other side rises 

 beneath the fingers of the right, in an elastic way, just as hap- 

 pens with a water-pillow, when pressure is made upon it. When, 

 therefore, this fluctuation is clearly made out, a lancet or knife 

 should be inserted, and made to cut its way out, so as to leave 

 a considerable opening, which should be so arranged as to let 

 the matter drain out at all times. This is what in surgery is 

 called a " depending " opening, the opposite plan allowing the 

 matter to remain in the abscess, which cannot therefore heal, 

 because , its walls are separated, and the consequence is that a 



