POLL EVIL 519 



Setoning is a generally successful plan where enlargement takes place on 

 both sides of the withers, and one is higher than the other. If the long 

 needle used for the pui'pose is made to follow the direction of the sinus and 

 passed from above downwards, coming out on the other side in such a 

 manner as to form a drain, both abscesses are simultaneously drained. 

 Tape or stout cord is generally employed, and the ends secured by knotting, 

 or a piece of wood. Tying the ends in a loop has the objection that it may 

 hang up. The scton is dressed with one or more of the agents before 

 mentioned, and from time to time drawn backwards and forwards until 

 there is reason to suppose from the character of the discharge that its 

 presence is no longer necessarj^. 



POLL EVIL 



Poll evil is now rai-ely met with in good stables, but almost confined to 

 the low dark dens in which the poorer class of townsmen stable their horses, 

 or the mean hovels that do duty in some agricultural districts. The 

 disease is of similar character to that of fistula and caused in the same way. 

 It has been frequently traced to blows on the poll in going through low 

 doorways, or from the pressure of ill-fitting and heavy harness, and occasion- 

 ally, it must be added, from wilfully striking a horse between the ears. 



The Symptoms are restiveness when the collar is put over the head and the 

 bridle placed upon it, soon to be followed by swelling and the formation of 

 an abscess. This is often a very long time in forming, but sooner or later 

 it breaks, discharges, and leaves a fistulous wound. 



Treatment is the same as for fistulous withers, but more care must be 

 exercised in the use of powerful caustics, as that portion of the spinal cord 

 between the two first bones of the neck (Atlas and Dentata) is compara- 

 tively open and liable to injury. Many cases prove incurable as the sinus 

 runs under the wing of the atlas and cannot be reached by surgical or other 

 means. 



CARIES OF THE JAW 



The upper jaw, from its exposed situation, and the lower from the 

 same cause, and also from the abuse of the bit, are liable to mechanical 

 injury, which ends in caries (ulceration), or sometimes in necrosis (morti- 

 fication), of the part. Caries of the lower jaw, between the tushes and 

 grinders, is extremely common, owing to the bai-barous punishment which 

 is inflicted by the use of long levers to curb bits, together with tight curb 

 chains. The bony plate forming the roof of the mouth is also often injured 

 by the pressure of the part when a tight nose-band is employed to keep the 

 mouth shut. Either may be known by the existence of a sore of a pecuKar 

 character ; there is a depression indicating a loss of substance, and in this 

 lies a mass of unhealthy granulation (proud flesh), tvhich is not attached to 

 the surrounding surface, being only fixed to the bottom of the cavity, or 

 perhaps partially on one side. A watery and ofiensive discharge goes on 

 constantly, but this is lost in the saliva, and very often the only circum- 

 stance that draws attention to the disease is the constant bleeding from the 



