TREATMENT OP BRUISES BY THE COLLAR. 499 



over the scapular region. Most frequently the upper groove causes 

 injury ; if too narrow it bruises, if too wide the skin is rubbed. As 

 a rule, when the collar is in position, there should be sufficient room 

 to allow of the hand passing between it and the withers. The collar, 

 besides, must be wide enough to be easily pushed over the horse's 

 head, and, moreover, fit the shoulder, so that it is neither pushed 

 towards the left nor. right. 



Injuries caused by the collar are in all essentials similar to those 

 caused by the saddle. Those in the neck region have the same 

 significance as injuries to the withers, that is, they are only grave 

 when the subcutis is injured. As long as the swelling is movable 

 and remains sharply defined, the cutis alone has been damaged. 

 In diffuse swellings infection easily extends to the lig. nuchse, producing 

 cellular inflammation, necrosis, and pus formation above the cervical 

 vertebrae — a condition which offers great difficulty in treatment. 

 This is particularly true of necrosis of the membraniform portion 

 of the lig. nucha?. Such diseases are always obstinate, sometimes 

 incurable, because septic cellulitis, set up between the muscles of 

 the neck, leads to abscess formation, and renders it impossible to make 

 satisfactory counter openings for exit of pus. Extensive swelling 

 and profuse pus formation are amongst the gravest symptoms. 



Treatment must be based on the same principles as are laid down 

 for .fistulous withers. The skin must not be divided transversely 

 across the top of the neck, but the lateral surfaces need not be spared, 

 and suppurating muscles must be freely laid open. Cutaneous 

 swellings produced by collar pressure are to be diagnosed and treated 

 in the same way as similar injuries caused by the saddle. 



The injuries produced by traces, tail straps, girths, and surcingles 

 usually consist of excoriations of the skin, are caused by the harness 

 not fitting accurately and, during the animal's work, moving con- 

 tinually over the surface of the skin, and so rubbing off hair and 

 epidermis. Such injuries are naturally favoured by a hard and 

 rough condition of the harness. To protect the injured spots, the 

 portions of the harness causing the injury should be covered with 

 smooth waxed linen, which is preferable to hare or rabbit skin, some- 

 times used. 



In cattle similar injuries are caused at the upper part of the neck 

 by the collar or yoke. The diagnosis and treatment must be as 

 above indicated. In those animals deep-seated suppuration occurs 

 in the region of the poll, giving rise to intermuscular inflammation 

 and sometimes producing conditions which are very difficult to treat. 

 Bruises on the head in cattle are also caused by yokes, especially 



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