CONTRIBUTIONS TO VETERINARY PATHOLOGY. 25? 
is a work of time. In fistula, quittor, sinuous wounds, un- 
healthy abscesses, &c. I have had repeated proofs of the supe- 
riority of the knife over other means. 
We meet with another description of abscess in the horse, 
strongly resembling the serous in character, unattended with 
pain, which, when situated in the neighbourhood of the joints, 
rarely produces lameness. It is also the result of a blow or 
other injury; it exists for a long time stationary, and frequently 
will not yield to repeated blistering. A seton passed through 
it generally cures it, or a simple puncture made in the lower or 
depending part sometimes removes it. 
These tumours differ from the true serous in the colour and 
consistence of their contents. They have a dark red fluid, like 
a mixture of blood and water, found in them, thinner and less 
viscid than serum. I am inclined to think these are produced 
often by the rupture of a small bloodvessel. 
I remember being called upon, about two years ago, to attend 
a horse that had been breasted against a toll-gate. He was 
going at the time at a good pace, and consequently the collision 
was violent. It occurred on a dark night, and possibly a con- 
vivial one. I found him early on the following morning ex- 
hibiting anxiety, with symptoms of suffering and fever; pulse 
accelerated, staring coat, and cold extremities. There was no 
diffuse swelling or much tenderness of the chest; but I ob- 
served a tumour , about the size of a hen’s egg, containing fluid, 
seated on the front of the breast, just above the top of the 
cariniform cartilage, opposite the space between the two 
first ribs. 
I at once reported my fears to the owner, that a bloodvessel 
was ruptured, and probably an important one. A cool box was 
selected for the animal ; rest and perfect quiet were enjoined ; 
laxatives, febrifuges, anodynes, &c. given. Weeks passed 
away and no improvement took place ; on the contrary, he lost 
flesh, and began to be emaciated. The tumour remained of the 
same size, but pointed a little more. It was blistered and re- 
blistered. No benefit followed any of the means adopted. The 
owner urged me to lance it. I represented the danger of doing 
this ; but, after a lapse of some weeks, the horse becoming more 
emaciated, I consented, there being no prospect of recovery 
under any course of treatment. An opening was therefore 
made into the tumour, large enough to admit the fore finger. 
A small clot of coagulated blood was let out, and as far as I 
could reach with my finger it was surrounded with coagulum. 
Upon his eating some hay, blood issued from the incision in a 
copious stream; and it continued to flow every time mastication 
was performed ; so much so, that a man was obliged to be con- 
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