TREATMENT OF FISTULOUS TRACTS. 
651 
substituted for the peroxide. On the twenty-second day the 
sore was entirely healed 
Case 5.—Fistulous withers in bay gelding-, fifteen years 
old, weighing about ten hundred pounds, and in a somewhat 
emaciated condition from a severe attack of distemper. Sep¬ 
tember 24th, laid open on either side, and after clearing of 
pus (a very large amount being present), injected the ten per 
cent, solution of pepsin, which was retained for twenty-four 
hours, then washed out with a one per cent, solution of hydro¬ 
chloric acid. Treated antiseptically until October 9th, when 
I began the use of the alcohol solution, not being satisfied with 
results. This I used five times at varying intervals, following 
up with hydrogen peroxide and zinc sulphate solution. The 
case has not yet quite recovered. The progress in this case 
proved more tardy than any of the others, owing, no doubt, 
to the condition of the animal, and also to the fact that the 
case was not under my immediate supervision. On inquiry, 
I found that the patient, on more than one occasion, received 
no attention whatever for several days. 
Case 6 .— Fistulous sore on left shoulder of roan gelding, 
located immediately behind posterior border and opposite 
lower part of middle third of scapula. This occurred as a 
result of a seton inserted in part about a year previous. 
With scalpel I enlarged opening and used alcoholic solution 
on October 23rd and again on 27th. Dressed daily with a 
weak solution of zinc sulphate. On the eighth day the sore 
was entirely healed. 
Of the above six cases only one failed to respond to a 
reasonable period of treatment, but this one was debilitated 
from disease and the animal’s systemic condition antagonistic 
to the success of any treatment. In reality, this patient would 
not be a proper subject upon which to give a fair test of any 
therapeutic agent. I believe if the animal had been in the 
same state of health the others were, that the treatment would 
have been equally satisfactory. 
From close observations during the treatment of these 
cases, and still wider observations in its more extended use, 
the following conclusions may justly be drawn: First, that it 
