DISEASES OF THE WITHERS. 



763 



Fig. 561.— 6th Layer of the Withers, 

 pi.— Lamellar portion of the cervical ligament, pf.— Funicular portion, te.— Trans- 

 verse spinalis of the necli. ac— Spinous processes of the dorsal vertebrsB. t.— Tuber- 

 osities of the same, te.— Transverse spinalis of the bacli. ie.— Common intercostal, 

 c— Ribs, gd.— Great serratus. it.— Inter-transversalis. i.— External intercostal mus- 

 cle. 1. — Inter-spinalis ligament. 



formation of the ailment recognized as a true " diseased withers," 

 with the habitual severity which is its characteristic. 



The originating causes of the diseases of the withers may be 

 divided into the 2:>redisposlng and the occasional. Among the 

 first are to be noted a defective anatomical conformation of the 

 region; the kind of work performed by the animal, and the degree 

 of care he receives. For exami:)le, when the withers are low, thick 

 and fleshy, as in heavy draught horses, the saddle of the harness 

 has a tendency to slij) forward and cause chafing and excoriation, 

 an accident from which, however, animals with high, sharj? withers 

 are by no means exempt ; for though, for the reason stated, they 

 are less liable than those of the other conformation, the advantaga 

 is offset by the fact that the skin is exj^osed to a more unequal 

 pressure, especially if that j^art of the harness is not properly 

 padded and fitted, and presses irregularly on the soft tissues, 

 upon which it rests. 



