SORE BACKS. 239 



SORE BACKS. 



Sore backs may be considered under the head of wounds, 

 and occur even in the best managed stable ; but careful atten- 

 tion to the fitting and stuffing of saddles will — at least, for 

 civilian purposes — almost always prevent them. Sometimes, 

 however, they occur from the roller or surcingle pad having 

 become too flat, thus letting it press down on the spinous 

 processes of the vertebrae. In such cases, a large and trouble- 

 some sore is formed. Whenever, therefore, a sore is seen on 

 the spine where the roller pad crosses it, the latter should 

 receive attention. As to the treatment of sore back, if there 

 be a swelling without abrasion of the skin, it should be 

 fomented or poulticed. If the skin is abraded, it should be 

 fomented, and then dressed with a little oil to keep it soft. 

 Sometimes what is called a " sitfast " forms, this being a 

 portion of dead leathery skin firmly fixed by the roots to the 

 subjacent supports. It is hard and painful to the touch, and 

 the quickest remedy is to cut it out with a knife and forceps, 

 when it becomes a simple wound ; it will heal rapidly when 

 kept soft with vaseline or oil. Sometimes the pummel of the 

 saddle presses on the withers, causing a fluctuating tumour, 

 often the size of a walnut or small orange. These enlarge- 

 ments frequently contain serous fluid, which remains a long 

 time, unless exit be given to it by puncturing with a knife or 

 lancet. If the horse is ridden with one of these enlargements 

 still pressed upon by the saddle, it increases in size, and 

 becomes very painful ; and at last an abscess forms and bursts, 

 and we may have that very stubborn and obstinate disease, 

 *' fistulous withers," to deal with, one which taxes the greatest 

 skill of the experienced veterinary surgeon. This shows how 

 necessary it is not to neglect saddle galls of the withers, but to 

 remove the cause at once, and attend to the injury. 



Girth galls usually only require to be fomented and kept 



