194 INJURIES. 



neither tilting forward or backward. The third is, that when the saddle 

 is on, and the girths fastened, there should remain space sufficient be- 

 tween the withers and the pommel for the introduction of the hand. 

 The fourth is, that the points of the tree should embrace the sides with- 

 out pinching them, or so standing outward that the pressure is all down- 

 ward and upon one place, instead of being in a direction inward, as well 

 as downward, so as to be distributed uniformly over the sides. Horses 

 having low and thick withers are more likely to be injured than others, 

 in consequence of the "riding forward" of the saddle, and its pressure 

 upon them. Fleshy, fat shoulders and sides also become hurt by the 

 points of the trees either pinching them, from being too narrow in the 

 arch, or from the bearing being directly downward upon them. I believe 

 also that injury occasionally results from the interruptions, which a too 

 forward saddle presents to the motion of the shoulders, and the friction 

 the soft parts sustain between the shoulder-bone inwardly and the points 

 of the saddle-tree outwardly. 



Independently, however, of the fitting of the saddle, the horse's back 

 may receive injury from the foul and hardened condition of the pannel. 

 The matter of perspiration will soak into it, dry, and cake upon it, and 

 render it rigid and harsh, and liable to chafe the skin. This is to be pre- 

 vented by exposing the saddle-pannel. wet from perspiration, to the heat 

 of the sun in summer, to that of the fire in winter, and when dry, by 

 beating it well with a cane or pliable stick in the manner, though harder, 

 one would beat a dusty coat. Thus not only is the dirt discharged from^ 

 it, but it is rendered thereby soft for the horse's back. Being woollen 

 (serge), the pannel never ought to be washed or even wetted ; it never 

 in fact requires moisture. 



The Name oi fistula is as applicable to a poll-evil as to 

 the disease we are now considering ; its true meaning being 

 simply a sinus : custom, however, has assigned it to injury of 

 the withers; and when we hear of '' fistula '' we must recol- 

 lect it refers to this part. 



Fistula only differs from poll-evil in its cause, and in the 

 peculiarities it derives from the structures it affects. It 

 consists in inflammation; and though the word fistula is 

 applicable but to one form of disease, yet the malady ex- 

 hibits three distinct stages. 



The State of Tumour is the shape in which we first meet 

 with fistulous withers. It is tumid, hot, and tender. The 

 cause, on investigation, proves to be either bearing from the 

 pommel or pinching from the points of the saddle. The 



