ABSCESS IN THE PAROTID REGION. 12^ 
pressed on; but the itching was so excessive as to necessitate 
the animal being fixed in one position. 
The constitutional disturbance was slight, inasmuch as the 
pulse was 48, and the number of respirations 12. I was much 
astonished at this, as greater obstruction than was really afforded 
to the respiratory function might have been expected from so 
large a tumour so peculiarly situated. 
I had the animal drawn out of the pit, and ordered a linseed 
meal poultice to be applied to the throat, as also that a cathartic 
should be administered. 
1 5th November .—The tumour is generally softer, and more 
elastic, although not fluctuating, and not so prurient as at first. 
The purgative has caused the bowels to respond, so that I simply 
requested that the cataplasms should be continued. 
1 6th .—The tumour is decidedly softer, and appears to be in¬ 
clined to point. Poultices to be continued. 
17 th .—The very extensive abscess has discharged its contents 
during the night. The opening, apparently the result of rather 
an extensive slough, extends from within an inch of the base 
of the occiput to the very inferior part of the tumour. The gap 
produced is appalling, being seven and a half inches wide at 
the inferior part, whilst in the rest of its extent it is between 
three and five inches wide, except at the very superior part, 
where the fissure naturally opens out from a point. 
The poultice contained much discharged pus, with two con¬ 
glomerate masses about the size of a pullet’s egg, which appear, 
on examination by the naked eye, to be portions of the parotid 
gland. 
The bifurcatory jugular vein was beautifully exposed, inas¬ 
much as all the tissues surrounding it had been destroyed by 
suppuration. 
No other expedient was here adopted than that of cleansing 
the wound with tepid water, and wrapping the throat up in 
flannel. 
18^A.—The discharge from the aperture is thin and watery, 
apparently issuing from the parotid gland; but whilst on gently 
saturating a sponge with the secretion, and then squeezing it, 
I could collect considerable quantities, still there appeared no 
increase during the process of mastication. 
As the exposed surfaces were pale and indolent, I had them 
dressed twice a-day with a solution of sulphate of zinc. 
21 st .—The glands cease to emit their modified secretion, and 
the wound is healing with a rapidity almost proportionate to the 
production of the solution of continuity. 
8 th December .—The healing process has so rapidly gone on, 
that nothing but the extensive cicatrix remains to be seen. 
