390 
FISTULA OF THE PAROTID DUCT. 
between the branches of the lower jaw~were next applied, 
and over this the three-tailed bandage placed. The whole 
side of the face was much swollen and painful, and the mare 
refused to eat any food for nearly two days, during which 
time she had frequent enemas of flour-gruel given her. 
Every day the dressings were removed and the nitrate of 
silver applied, and although saliva still continued to flow, yet 
the wound was healing rapidly, and the stream becoming- 
more and more attenuated. 
At length, on the 24th of May, all oozing had ceased, and 
the mare, in addition to her bran-mashes, had a small quantity 
of damped hay mixed with tares allowed her. This she mas- 
ticated with avidity, and shortly after her commencing to eat, 
a small distension could be perceived where the fistula once 
was. Since then this has also gradually disappeared, and now, 
with the exception of the cicatrices and a degree of induration, 
there only remains a thin eschar. 
In the treatment of this case, the benefits to be derived 
from the use of the nitrate of silver as a stimulant and 
coagulating agent cannot be too highly extolled, as by its 
intimately uniting with the albuminous matter of the blood 
and tissues, and with the chlorides and other salts of the 
saliva, a covering was formed for the fistula, underneath which 
the granulations sprung rapidly up, until, towards the end of 
the cure, only a little saliva forced its way through the minute 
opening not yet entirely closed, and then another slight touch 
of the caustic on the liquid caused an immediate white pre- 
cipitate, rapidly becoming darkened in colour, and forming 
a fresh plug. 
I shall never after this think of curing a fistulous stenonian 
duct by destroying the secreting property of the gland. 
And as for employing the actual cautery, it appears to me to 
do more harm than good, as in a very short time sloughing 
takes place — long before the granulations underneath have 
had time to effect any good — and then an opening is left 
larger than before, while a degree of inflammation is set up 
which may afterwards prevent an easy cure by obliterating 
the canal of the duct from the lesion into the mouth. 
