ABSCESS. 
firmly on one side of the swelling and with the fingers of the other 
hand gently press the tumour ; if the swelling be felt to rise and fall 
under the first hand, it is due to the presence of fluid, and the sensa- 
tion imparted is what is understood as fluctuation ; it is as well to 
try and obtain it in two directions at least. To recognize fluctuation 
only requires a little practice, but much skill is necessary to detect 
matter in small quantity or where it is deeply seated. As already 
observed if matter be not liberated it will burrow and increase the 
extent of the mischief ; hence it is essential to evacuate it as soon 
as possible after it has formed. A swelling that has shown no sign 
of reducing and is attended by pain, local heat and tenderness, and 
especially if there be any fever present, even if fluctuation be not 
obtained, a knife should be plunged deeply into it, for it is better to 
do this when no matter exists than to postpone doing it for some 
time after it may have accumulated ; no harm beyond laying the 
animal up for a few days can arise from the first contingency, but 
considerable harm in the latter. 
A better method^ whenever there are any reasonable grounds 
for suspecting the presence of matter, such as continued high tempe- 
rature after an injury, is to use a fine trocar and canula (Campbell's) 
and plunge this into the suspected swelling and on the removal of 
the trocar fluid if present will flow through the canula and the 
swelling may then be freely opened with a knife. Two or three 
punctures may be made in different parts. No harm is likely to 
result from this procedure provided the instrument is well boiled 
before use ; on the contrary some swellings where pus has not been 
detected have dispersed after puncture. 
Mahouts are proverbially dilatory in opening an abscess and 
prefer to leave it, saying that it is not ripe or too hard and are there- 
fore responsible for the loss of an animal's service for a much longer 
period than need be. 
Method of procedure in opening an abscess. — First of all wash the 
part thoroughly with some disinfecting solution {see Formulae i 14 to 
120), then plunge a knife deeply into the most prominent part of the 
swelling, i.e., stab it, or better still, first plunge a fine trocar and 
canula into it, withdrawing the former ; if matter now escapes, make 
a free incision into the swelling in such a situation as to allow the 
readiest means of drainage, that is if on the back incise the lowest 
portion of the swelling. Naturally, if the upper portion were opened 
a pocket would be left in which the discharges would collect. A 
free incision right through the length of the swelling is the shortest 
procedure in the long run. Mahouts if allowed to carry out their 
own methods will tinker about the business, fail to give free vent to 
the discharges and will lay an animal up indefinitely. If in the 
