PREFACE 



There are several reasons why a manual on 

 this disease should be a part of the veterinary 

 literature of the day, the chief one being that 

 fistula of the withers is a very prevalent disease 

 of horses and thus exacts a big toll from the 

 horse industry. Another reason for bringing 

 it especially to the attention of readers of vet- 

 erinary literature is the deplorable fact that 

 its treatment has never been standardized in 

 the veterinary profession. Almost all long 

 known and common complaints of domestic 

 animals of a serious character are handled ac- 

 cording to definite plans, differing only in 

 minor details. The many conferences of our 

 teachers of surgery in association work, and 

 the interchange of ideas made possible by the 

 splendid periodicals which all progressive vet- 

 erinarians now read, as well as the profusion 

 of all kinds of literature that reaches everyone, 

 has fortunately created a standard of treat- 

 ment for nearly all of the more important ail- 

 ments of animals. 



Not so, however, with fistula of the withers. 

 Each seems to have his own plan of treatment 

 and few, indeed, claim even a fair degree of 



