440 
ABSCESSES OF THE GUTTURAL POUCHES. 
to see her in March 1844, when the following symptoms pre- 
sented themselves : — Extreme emaciation — a snoring noise so as 
to be heard at a distance in every inspiration, which was in part 
performed through the mouth ; this was produced by the pressure 
of two tumours occupying the eustachian cavities. It was with 
difficulty that she could be horned with gruel without producing 
suffocation. She had calved about three weeks. 
I recommended an operation, and, after describing the nature 
and danger of it, the owner, with some reluctance, consented, and 
a time was appointed for its performance. The animal was cast on 
her right side, and properly secured and fixed. I then commenced 
the operation by making an incision from above downward through 
the integument from four to five inches long, just posterior to the 
parotid gland, antero superior to the ramus anastamoticus, and su- 
perior to the large bloodvessels going to and from the head. 
Having reflected back the skin, I dissected it carefully down, 
avoiding as much as possible the smaller vessels and the lingual 
and the other nerves. Having reached and made a bold opening 
into the left tumour, a large quantity of grumous matter of a 
yellow colour escaped. On farther examination, I found that 
there was another distinct abscess occupying the other cavity, and 
that neither pressure nor absorption had broken down the division. 
An opening was made into the other tumour, which contained 
matter somewhat similar to the first. I think there could be no 
less than a gallon of imprisoned pus. You may form some con- 
ception of the size of the tumours from the fact that I introduced 
my hand into the cavities and could turn it round with ease, and 
feel the vertebra and anticus muscles above and the larynx below. 
Only one small artery was divided which required taking up. 
The operation occupied some time from a fear of suffocating the 
animal during her struggles. She arose much relieved. 
The after treatment was constant fomentations until healthy 
pus appeared, which was in about a week from the operation. 
The medicine she got was of a stimulating and tonic nature, with 
attending to the bowels, &c. The pus had to discharge somewhat 
against gravity, but, the external opening being large and the pus 
healthy, granulations proceeded rapidly. This cow recovered in a 
few months, milked well, and got into good condition. Whether 
the eustachian tubes opening into the fauces became stopped by 
any means, and the collection of pus succeeded in the cavities, or 
whether the tumours were formed contiguous to the pouches, and 
by pressure and absorption found their way into them, I cannot 
say, but I am inclined to the latter. 
[ recollect a stirk that was destroyed for difficulty of breathing, 
and the post-mortem examination brought to light a scirrhous 
