FISTULOUS WITHERS. 239 



Pathology. — Fistulous withers occur as the result of an 

 injury, which having been received, inflammation becomes 

 established, in the soft tissues in the region of the withers, 

 and runs on to suppuration, the neighbouring structures 

 gradually becoming affected. In many cases the superior 

 spinous processes of the dorsal vertebrae are involved, and 

 gradually undergo destruction, becoming carious and ne- 

 crosed. 



Causes. — As before stated, fistulous withers occur as a 

 result of injury : as that resulting from the use of a badly- 

 fitting saddle, which in all probability is the most prolific 

 cause of the condition ; riding a horse two or three hundred 

 yards with a badly-fitting saddle is often found to be quite 

 sufficient to produce a well-marked case. The same saddle 

 will not fit every horse, as horses are as different in shape 

 and conformation as men, some horses being possessed of 

 high and thin withers, whilst others have low and thick 

 withers, thickly clad with muscular tissue. After pus is 

 formed it may burrow down even to the scapula, and in 

 some cases extends down behind the scapula. It reaches 

 the suppurative stage sooner than poll evil. 



Symptoms. — There is more or less swelling of the parts, 

 accompanied by heat, and there is a tenderness on pressure, 

 the animal showing a decided objection to having the parts 

 handled. The presence of pus is manifested by the usual 

 symptoms, as fluctuation, looseness of the hair, etc. 



Treatment. — If the case be treated in the early stages, 

 before the formation of pus, the inflammatory action may, 

 occasionally be arrested by the application of refrigerants, 

 etc., but when the swelling is great, the parts hot and tender, 

 and it is evident that pus has formed, the parts should be 

 poulticed for a day or two, then opened freely with the 

 knife, after which the free use of poultices and fomentations 

 should be continued, when, if not too far gone, and the 



