290 
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY. 
respective aponeurotic portion are all separated from one another 
by connective tissues (areolar), which is a favorable soil for the 
development of pus cocci when introduced , the pus organisms 
burrow in these layers and form fistulse which often divide into 
numerous branches gravitating downward to the lower part of 
the abdomen. These fistulse often follow the puncturing of 
intestines ( j punctio intestini) of horses to relieve tympanites, and 
is the one sequel dreaded by all veterinarians who have ever 
had any experience in that “ line.” The existence of an abscess 
at the point punctured is generally followed by the formation 
of one or more fistulse which are very obstinate and do not yield 
to treatment unless prompt and vigorous measures are adopted 
as soon as they begin to form. If the development of these fis¬ 
tulse is not arrested as soon as possible, they eventually extend 
downward as far as the scrotum or mamma; and sometimes 
they are followed by a number of secondary abscesses and local 
peritonitis which may terminate fatally in the course of several 
weeks. The secondary abscesses always break open in the direc¬ 
tion of the least resistance; if located in the connective tissue 
between the rectus and the transversalis abdominis, peritonitis 
invariably follows and terminates fatally much sooner than 
when located between other muscles. When a fistula is located 
between the oblique muscles or the external oblique and the 
abdominal tunic the fatal or favorable termination is deferred ; 
the course is slow and progressive; the symptoms and condi¬ 
tion of the patient indicate septic intoxication, which is fol¬ 
lowed by septic infection; and the fatal termination is caused 
by some complication resulting from septicaemia. The forma¬ 
tion of an abscess following a puncture, whether made with a 
trocar or accidentally, should not be neglected, but opened 
promptly and treated as an open wound, to prevent the forma¬ 
tion of fistulse. . 
The same conditions follow abdominal wounds located m 
the abdominal tunic, a structure composed of white fibrous and 
yellow elastic tissue (principally yellow elastic), which is ex¬ 
panded over the lower part of the abdomen and the lateral 
walls; its function is to assist the abdominal muscles in sup¬ 
porting the large abdominal viscera common to herbivorous an¬ 
imals ; its conformation and composition favor it in adapting 
itself to the varying volume of the contents of the abdominal 
cavity ; it is thickest posteriorly and near the linea alba, and 
becomes gradually thinner as it extends outward and upward 
over the lateral walls, and is located between the external ob- 
