240 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICIiNE. 



bones are not involved, a cure will usually result. If 

 the case is of long standing and pipes or sinuses have 

 formed, they should be freely laid open and given a 

 dependent orifice. If the fistula is external to the scapula, 

 a permanent opening may be made by means of a seton. 

 If the diseased structures are all external to the scapula 

 and the bones are not affected, the treatment is compara- 

 tively a simple matter ; but if situated behind the scapula, 

 it is very hard to effect a cure, particularly if the spinous 

 processes of the dorsal vertebrae or the cartilage of prolonga- 

 tion are involved. Sometimes the old method of ' coring 

 out ' with a small quantity of corrosive sublimate, inserted 

 by means of a small pipe, is very successful. But the knife 

 is the sheet-anchor in the treatment of fistulous withers, 

 and should be used freely to lay the diseased structures 

 open to the bottom. If the bones are affected by caries, 

 they are to be well scraped with the bone-spoon. If any 

 portions of the bone are necrosed, it may be necessary to 

 use the bone-forceps to remove the necrosed structures. 

 Any detached pieces of bone should be removed, after 

 Avhich it is to be treated as an ordinary wound. Constitu- 

 tional remedies may also often be employed beneficially in 

 addition to the other treatment, as laxatives, diuretics, laxa- 

 tive diet, etc. 



Sprain.— Sometimes the longissimus dorsi and other 

 muscles are put to a severe strain, in consequence of which 

 slight swellings may be observed over the loins, and sore- 

 ness is evinced by the animal when the parts are handled. 

 This condition is oftenest seen in racehorses and hunters, 

 or in any horse habitually put to severe exertion. It is the 

 cause of many a horse being unable to run a good race for 

 months after having run one severe race when out of con- 

 dition. 



Treatment. — The animal should be allowed to rest as long 



