9.9,9. 
W. J. COATES. 
tion, as it is one of the most troublesome of all forms of abscesses 
situated on the external portion of the body to treat satisfac¬ 
torily. Absorbents have been used and failed, in the form of 
blisters, ointments and solutions externally and iodides inter¬ 
nally ; aspiration has been practiced and caused the swelling 
to subside somewhat, but it has filled up again; escharotics 
have been effectual after aspiration in some cases and have 
failed in others, leaving a fistulous tract. Making an incision 
into the tumor and cutting it out piecemeal with scissors, and 
controlling the hemorrhage with the actual cautery and with 
pressure, has been successfully practiced. Passing setons sat¬ 
urated with astringent or caustic solutions have failed, also 
the injection of solutions in various portions of the tumor. 
The repeated injection of caustics has done a great deal of 
harm by causing inflammatory action and multiple abscesses 
forming. Excision has been resorted to, but is objectionable 
on account of the excessive hemorrhage which occurs and the 
necessity of throwing the animal in the majority of cases. 
Excision can be accomplished readily without pain by the use 
of cocaine. 
The method of operation and the habit and skill of each 
surgeon may accomplish a gc*)d result in various ways. 
Some veterinarians use an expectant plan of treatment where 
a want of faith in surgical measures exclude operative inter¬ 
ference. 
No doubt these means have been successful and every sur¬ 
geon adopts the plan with which he has had the best results, but 
seeing all these methods employed and employing them my¬ 
self, I have found that the most effectual plan is with the actual 
cautery. The simplicity, safety and efficiency of this method 
make it desirable that it should be better known. The only 
plea which I offer for removal with the actual cautery in 
preference to the knife, is to avoid hemorrhage. 
On the start or as soon as the oedema takes place, hot 
fomentations are indicated to reduce the swelling and hasten 
suppuration, which in a few cases will develop rapidly and 
point, so that fluctuation can be detected and the abscess 
opened with a bistory, the contents evacuated, the healing 
