CAUSE OF CERTAIN MORBID PHENOMENA. 
257 
posed end, of enabling the pus to escape. The bottom of the su- 
perior cavity, and of the incisions, was lined with large soft fun- 
gous portions, infiltrated with serum, and to the most developed of 
which peduncles were attached. The pus that was secreted was 
abundant in quantity, serous, ropy, and foetid. On introducing the 
fingers into the opening, the summits of the three highest apophyses 
of the withers were easily felt, the cartilages of which were rough 
to the touch, and the cervical ligament, in part detached from the 
processes, was almost protruding from the wound. This last cir- 
cumstance confirmed our diagnosis, already certain from the ap- 
pearance of the wound and the pus. 
I at once prognosticated that the animal would die ; but the 
owner entreating that we would try to save him, I attempted the 
operation, serious and doubtful as to its result, of amputating the 
carious spinous apophyses. 
16/fA. — The animal was cast. I prolonged with the convex bis- 
toury the incisions on each side as far as the lowest opening of the 
fistulous passages which proceeded from them. Next, by means 
of the curved bistoury, I cut away all the fungous growths that 
gave an ulcerous aspect to the wounds. The slip of integument 
which extended over the superior cavity of the withers was not 
spared. It resulted from this, that a wound was made nearly a foot 
in diameter in every direction. 
The carious apophyses being completely exposed, I excised every 
part of the detached suspensory ligament, and, by the aid of a good 
double pair of forceps, I removed, in succession, the cartilaginous 
summits of the three diseased apophyses, taking care to penetrate 
sufficiently deep into the spongy tissue of the bone. I thus ob- 
tained a wound susceptible of granulating, although in different 
degrees, through its whole extent. The skin on the right side being 
yet detached l^eyond the principal incision which I had made, I 
passed a small thread under that part, and dressed the wound with 
pledgets of tow moistened with salted water, and which I kept in 
their place by means of six stitches. The animal appeared to 
suffer greatly during the whole of the operation. He was led back 
to the stables, a restricted diet was ordered, and an ounce and a 
half of acetate of ammonia was given in a bottle of ordinary wine. 
11th . — The wound had already begun to throw out some fungous 
granulations in parts, and its surface was covered with a purulent 
fluid, not perfectly elaborated It was of a deep red colour, 
mingled with a livid hue. It was washed with a strong solution of 
chloride of lime, and dressed with pledgets of tow lightly covered 
with a digestive ointment. Give an ounce and a half of the acetate 
of ammonia, and somewhat improve the diet. 
19 th . — The granulations are more healthy, and pus is secreted, 
thick and creamy : the spinous apophyses, however, do not seem to 
