108 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



him to lie down at night, or even keep him up for two or three days, and 

 keep the head up until the other veins accommodate themselves to carry 

 the blood. He should not be turned on pasture for some time ; swelling 

 of the head is apt to result, due to mechanical congestion, as the blood 

 cannot go back to the heart in a proper manner. Obliteration of a 

 vein is an unsoundness ; so, in examining for soundness, place the finger 

 on and try to raise the vein. If it is obliterated, it will not raise. 



Thrombus is sometimes mistaken for inflammation of the vein. It 

 is owing to the manner in which the pinning was done. It is swelling 

 and irritation between the skin and areolar tissue. It is trivial in com- 

 parison to phlebitis. You can easily distinguish these. If it extends 

 and is painful to the touch, it is suspicious. A thrombus is moveable 

 and circumscribed. 



Treatment. — Eemove the pin and carefully squeeze out the matter, 

 and apply liniments, followed by mild lotions, and keep the head up, and 

 you may apply a poultice— linseed meal, boiled turnips, etc. 



Stiffness in the Muscles of the neck and back may come from 

 various causes— from influenza in the spring and fall, due to a rheumatic 

 tendency or neuroses. There is lumbago in human practice, and perhaps 

 horses suffer in the same way. He may have great difficulty in raising 

 the head, ^nd will groan with pain if pulled around suddenly. If it 

 occurs after strangles or influenza, it is best treated with heat to the 

 parts, with camphorated and anodyne liniments, or apply heat by 

 wringing a blanket from hot water, and put this on and cover with a dry 

 blanket, and attend to the general condition of the animal; give 

 nutritious food, etc. Give iodide of potassium and colchinni, one 

 drachm each, and, if debilitated, give tonics. 



Injuries in the Muscles of the Neck, caused by one horse biting 

 another, bruising the muscles to a great extent. The skin may or may 

 not be lacerated. Be very careful in such a case for a day or two. 

 Although it may appear very trivial at first, it may turn out very serious. 

 Even if the skin is not lacerated, the fascia and the muscles are bruised, 

 causing inflammation of the head and neck, followed by suppuration, 

 gangrene and sloughing of the parts. 



Treatment. — Keep quiet, apply judicious fomentations, just a little 

 more than lukewarm. Stimulate with mild stimulating liniments, and 

 watch closely, especially if there is great pain in the parts, and if likely to 

 terminate in suppuration you may make incisions, which, if done in time, 

 will prevent sloughing in many cases. Make the incisions so the matter 

 can escape when formed. Keep the head tied up. Sometimes sloughing 

 will take place and extend right through the ligamentum nuchse, invol- 

 ving the large muscles on either side. In most of these cases this can be 

 prevented if closely watched for one or two days. If suppuration occurs 

 make the incisions, then poultice. 



Fistula, or Fistulous Withers. — It is a solution of continuity, to a 

 greater or less extent. Fistula proper is where there are two openings — 

 one external and one internal, opening into an internal cavity. There is 

 no particular difference between fistula and sinuses. If there is but one 

 opening, it is called incomplete ; if two, it is complete. 



Causes. — An ill-fitting riding saddle is the most frequent — being rode a 

 mile, or even less, it will produce it. Inflammation is set up, followed by 

 suppuration. It burrows down, often getting behind the scapula. Even 

 the bearing of a rein will sometimes produce it. 



Symptoms. — Swelling, more or less — just the same as in poll-evil. It 

 can scarcely be called fistula until sinuses are formed. If you apply 

 poultices before sinuses are formed you may prevent them from forming. 

 The matter discharged, if the bone is affected, is fetid. 



