24 FISTULA AND POLL-EVIL 



the fourth and the fifth spines, and often as 

 far forward as the second. It is at the level of 

 the second dorsal spine where the causative 

 center of most of the cases of fistula of the 

 withers that we have examined carefully, were 

 located. 



An important point to remember about the 

 funicular portion of the ligamentum nuchas is 

 its wide expansion posteriorly. Approaching 

 the crest of the withers it extends in the out- 

 ward and downward direction five to six inches, 

 partly enveloping the rhomboideus and tra- 

 pezius. This expanded portion is often the 

 cause of recurrence of fistula after the main 

 portion has been removed. 



It is surmounted along its course by the 

 "pad of the mane" a structure composed of 

 elastic fibers interspersed with adipose tissue. 

 It is most abundant in the middle of the cervi- 

 cal region and is best developed in stallions of 

 the draft breeds. 



The funicular portion is a sheet-like par- 

 tition dividing the superior cervical muscles 

 into halves. It is composed of two layers 

 attached loosely to one another by areolar tis- 

 sue, and each layer is composed of two parts, 

 anterior and posterior. The anterior part is 

 thick and strong, attached to the funicular 

 portion above and to the cervical spinous proc- 



