POLL-EVIL. 569 



its most inferior part. For this purpose, a free incision is to be 

 made, and it must not be allowed to close too soon ; fomenta- 

 tions are to be repeatedly applied, but no special application 

 is required, the ordinary treatment for abscess being all that is 

 necessary. 



If the abscess has already burst, is discharging a foetid un- 

 healthy pus, and the opening is surrounded with fungous gi^anula- 

 tions, the disease will be found to have assumed a most for- 

 midable aspect ; for not only will the subcutaneous areolar and 

 muscular tissues be involved, but the ligaraentum mccJice also ; 

 which, being tough and elastic, imprisons the pus, causing it to 

 burrow in various directions, and, having a low organization, its 

 healing powers are exceedingly torpid. The treatment of a case 

 of this description is a matter of some difficulty, and to be com- 

 plete, a thorough examination must be made with the probe of 

 all the fistulous ulcers and sinuses. These must be freely laid 

 open to their very base, and the whole dressed with a solution of 

 the bichloride of mercury, the chloride of zinc, or the muriate of 

 antimony; a thin layer of the parts laid open w-ill thus be 

 destroyed, and the wdiole converted into a common wound. The 

 repeated applications of caustics and escharotics are not required, 

 indeed they do much harm ; when once the part is converted 

 into a healthy-looking wound, all that is necessary is to keep it 

 clean, dress with mild astringents, and prevent the opening from 

 closing too quickly. 



In many cases, setons inserted from the original opening along 

 the direction of the fistulae, and brought out upon the opposite 

 side of the poll, are very successful; but if there be many sinuses, 

 the seton treatment is not to be depended upon, and it is better 

 to use the knife freely. 



When poll-evil is caused by the bearing-rein, it is deep- 

 seated, perhaps involving the synovial membrane of the occipito- 

 atloidean articulation, and some cases have terminated in 

 anchylosis of tliis joint, causing the animal to be permanently 

 stiff-necked. In some instances the ulcerative process has 

 penetrated the capsules of the first or second cervical articula- 

 tions, causing sudden death by pressure upon the medulla 

 spinalis ; in others, pieces of the bones become detached, keep- 

 ing up the irritation and formation of pus ; these must be 

 searched for and carefully removed. 



