THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
413 
water, and this will in a short time ripen the swelling, and render 
it fit to be opened. This operation should never be anti- 
cipated, as by opening it too early it may become a tedious, ill- 
conditioned ulcer, instead of a kind and healthy one. If the 
abscess should burst of itself, the opening may be a little in- 
creased with the knife, pursuing a dependent direction. The 
time for opening it may be known by a pointed projection feel- 
ing soft, and a fluid undulating beneath the skin. This process 
is the suppurative action, and consequent formation of abscess. 
Ulcer. 
When opened it becomes an ulcer. Every ulcer does not shew 
these two stages, at least not sufficiently to be noticed. I shall, 
however, first recommend the mode of treating the ulcers arising 
from the common abscess. 
I must here again object to the mode of farriers, grooms, 
salistries, &c., wiping the open wound to the bottom, by which 
they destroy the tender granulations of new flesh, which nature 
sprouts forth from the bottom and sides of the wound, in order 
to fill it up; also depriving the wound of the matter, which, so 
far from being destructive, is nature’s richest balsam, is con- 
tinually forming for the most benevolent purposes new parts and 
vessels, in order to replace those which are destroyed. The wound 
also being exposed to the air is much irritated ; yet the balsamic 
qualities of this fluid depend very much on the state of the 
body, which may be known by its consistence and colour. If it is of 
a pale yellow, and rather thick, it is healthy. If very thin and 
greenish, or mixed with blood, it is the reverse, and if the wound 
is of consequence, the cure must be sought by constitutional 
remedies ; for no local application will produce good matter if 
the habit is bad ; and it is on the qualities of the matter that 
the cure depends. 
If the condition of the animal is too high, he may lose blood, 
and this may be succeeded by a dose of physic. The ulcer is, 
however, much oftener found in horses of ill condition ; in 
which case boluses of one drachm of opium, and half a drachm 
of tartar emetic may be given twice a-day. Bark may also be 
administered ; but I am fearful the quantity required will be too 
great an obstacle, and its operation may not, perhaps, be so 
extensive in the horse as in the human subject. A good diet 
with gentle exercise twice a-day is also proper, if the situation 
of the abscess will admit of it. When healing, the edges, and 
even the surface of the wound, will frequently grow above that 
of the skin, usually called proud flesh or fungus. This is always 
a favourable symptom, being merely the luxuriant growth 
