SYMPTOMS 



Typical poll-evil is first seen as a slight bulg- 

 ing of one or both sides of the poll. There are 

 at first no manifestations of pain either on pal- 

 pation or in movements of the head. Later as 

 the phlegmonous stage begins the movements 

 of the head become painful and palpations an- 

 noy the patient. Some will oppose any at- 

 tempt to touch the region. Before the abscess 

 points there are radiating lines along the sides 

 of the neck. The head is held extended, later- 

 al movements are painful and the whole body 

 is turned stiffly, as if tlie whole axial skeleton 

 were anchylosed. 



Later the abscess points and discharges its 

 contents over the sides of the neck. The aper- 

 ture may then discharge a limited quantity of 

 pus for weeks that keeps the region continual- 

 ly soiled and irritated. The aperture will fin- 

 ally close gradually as the discharges become 

 less abundant, but this will eventually be fol- 

 lowed by the forming of another abscess, which 

 will behave in the same manner as the preced- 

 ing one, and so the condition proceeds. While 

 these abscesses and tracts are forming, the mus- 

 culatm'e involved becomes considerably elevat- 



