REPORTS OF CASES. 
271 
REPORTS OF CASES. 
COMPLICATION IN SEVERE LARYNGITIS, 
Viz.: Escaping of Fluids (water or gruel ) through an Abcess in 
the Inter-Maxillary Space while in the act 
of Deglutition. 
By G. P. Penniman, D.V.S. 
The patient, a grey mare six years of age, came for treatment 
April 22d, showing considerable difficulty in breathing and in¬ 
ability to eat or drink; swellings in the inter-maxillary region, 
and some local irritation of the skin under the fetlocks. Later, 
the skin sloughed from these parts, leaving unhealthy-looking 
surfaces. 
The usual treatment for laryngitis was pursued, but upon the 
25th, respiration was so labored that tracheotomy was performed. 
27th. Inferior cervical and a portion of the pectoral regions 
were much swollen and hard, but the breathing was easy through 
the tube. 
28th. Dark or chocolate-colored pus had worked from an 
abcess in the inter-maxillary space beneath the skin down to the 
point where the tube was inserted, and there escaped. The ab¬ 
cess was then opened. 
29th. The animal succeeded in swallowing a little water and 
soon after coughed from the mouth a tea cup-full of pus. 
30th. Some improvement, but in drinking gruel or water 
(which she did more readily) a portion of it would escape from 
the abcess in the inter-maxillary space and from beneath the skin 
at the point of insertion of the tracheotomy tube. 
She continued to improve. The extensive swellings dimin¬ 
ished faster than was expected ; only a stimulating lotion, with 
palma friction, being used for them. 
May 2d. The tube was removed and the wound appeared 
healthy. Those of the fetlocks were better, but were quite tar¬ 
dy in healing. No further escape of fluids was noticed. 
She improved rapidly from this time, and upon the 20th was 
turned to pasture and has entirely recovered. 
