POLL-EVIL. 137 



will form in the tumor ; and then our object should be to hasten 

 its ibrmation by warm fomentations, poultices, or stimulating 

 embrocations. As soon as the matter is formed, which may be 

 known by the softness of the tumor, and before it has time to 

 spread around and eat into the neighboring parts, it should be 

 evacuated. Now comes the whole art of treating poll-evil ; tlip 

 opening into the tumor must be so contrived that all the matter 

 shall run out, and continue afterwards to run out as quickly as 

 it is formed, and not collect at the bottom of the ulcer, irritating 

 and corroding it. This can be effected by a seton alone. The 

 needle should enter at the top of the tumor, penetrate through 

 its bottom, and be brought out at the side of the neck, a little 

 below the abscess. Without anything more than this, except 

 frequent fomentation with warm water, in order to keep the part 

 clean, and to obviate inflammation, poll-evil in its early stage 

 w^ll frequently be cured. 



If the ulcer has deepened and spread, and threatens to eat into 

 the ligaments of the joints of the neck, it may be necessary to 

 stimulate its surface, and perhaps painfully so, in order to bring 

 it to a healthy state, and dispose it to fill up. In extreme cases, 

 some highly stimulating application may be employed. All 

 measures, however, will be ineffectual, unless the pus or matter 

 is, by the use of setons, perfectly evacuated. The application of 

 these setons will require the skill and anatomical knowledge of 

 the veteiinary surgeon. In desperate cases, the wound cannot 

 be fairly exposed to the action of the caustic without the division 

 of the ligament of the neck. This may be effected wdth perfect 

 safety ; for although the ligament is carried on to the occipital 

 bone, and some strength is gained by this prolongation of it, the 

 main stress is on the second bone ; and the head wdll continue to 

 be supported. The divided ligament, also, will soon unite again, 

 and its former usefulness will be restored when the wound is 

 healed. =^ 



* Note by Mr. Spooner. — All cooling applications to the poll-evil are use- 

 less, for when once the swelling which constitutes the disease has appeared 

 we have never known it dispersed, but sooner or later it suppurates. It 

 often takes many months before the matter reaches the surface ; but the 

 more complete the suppuration is, the easier it is to effect a cure. The in- 

 jury, which generally arises from striking the poll against a low door-way, 

 is deep-seated, and the surface of the bone is often diseased from the be- 

 ginning. 



It must be confessed that the poll-evil is very difficult to cure, a difficulty 

 arising not from the character of the injury, but rather from its situation, and 

 the nature of the surrounding parts. When matter forms in any situation 

 it has a tendency to pass downwards, and to seek an exit where the least 

 obstacles are offered to its passtvge. It consequently forms passages or 

 sinuses (pipesj amongst the muscles, and, when these are filled, the matter 

 points to the surface. This tendency contLaues after an external openins: \9 



