366 ENORMOUS SEROUS ABSCESS IN A CART MARE. 
fluid, tinged with blood. On the application of nitric acid it in- 
stantly coagulated, thus satisfactorily demonstrating that it was 
a serous abscess. 
The manual treatment consisted in introducing the trocar, 
and emptying the contents of the abdomen. Six quarts of serum 
were measured off, and compress rollers were applied around the 
abdomen, in order to excite adhesion. 
3d, a.m. — The compresses were stretched, and the swelling 
tense. I introduced the trocar. Four quarts of fluid escaped ; 
after which I re-applied the compresses. In the evening again 
I obtained four quarts of fluid. 
4 th, a.m. — Four quarts escaped, and, by manual compression, 
in the evening, three quarts more were obtained. The other 
treatment the same. 
6th, a.m. — Three quarts were evacuated, and the fluid had a 
more turbid appearance. Finding no disposition to adhesion 
taking place, after each evacuation I injected, with an enema 
syringe, an agent of a stimulating character, and continued the 
compresses. On the evening of the same day, on introducing 
the trocar, three quarts of fluid were abstracted, the character of 
which was still more turbid. 
6th, a.m. — Two quarts were drawn off. — p.m., Two quarts again 
withdrawn, and the injections and compress and rollers continued. 
1th, a.m. — Three pints were withdrawn, and two pints in the 
evening. 
Sth .~ The trocar was now allowed to remain in the orifice, 
and the fluid to escape, as it was secreted — injections and com- 
presses as before. The fluid continued to drop during ten days, 
when the trocar was taken out, and a seton put in its place. A 
discharge continued, or was kept up for about three weeks, 
when it entirely ceased. Cotild all the discharge have been 
caught, it would have far exceeded nine gallons of fluid. 
Medicinal treatment . — The pulse, two hours after the horse 
was admitted into the infirmary, was 44, and normal in charac- 
ter. About the third day it rose to 58, and was indicative of 
approaching debility. I then ordered a mineral tonic, the pro- 
toxide of iron, in order to increase the red globules of the blood, 
and afford an element that has an affinity for oxygen. I certainly 
expected to have met with greater debility in an earlier stage, 
when we take into consideration the quantity of serum lost, and 
so richly charged with albumen. Debility being pointed out by 
the pulse, made me at once endeavour to excite inflammatory 
adhesion by means of stimulating injections, and thus prevent so 
great waste of what goes to form the organized tissues. I should, 
however, have been fearful to have used stimulating injections, 
