362 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



diate soft tissues, and poll evil is the result. Notwithstanding all 

 this, poll evil is of rather rare occurrence. 



Poll evil is first noticed in the form of an oval tumor, hot and 

 tender, situated directly in the region of the nape, mostly inclin- 

 ing to one side ; in the suppurative stage, and when the matter is 

 deep-seated, scarcely any fluctuation can be felt ; when, however, 

 the matter lies directly beneath the skin, or in the cellular tis- 

 sues, the reverse is the case. The suppurative finally runs into 

 the ulcerative stage; we then observe chasms and sinuses, simi- 

 lar to those observed in fistula of the withers, and finally the 

 bones become involved in the disease. 



Treatment. — In the early stage, a sort of antiphlogistic treat- 

 ment is the best. The patient should be kept on a light diet, 

 have a dose of cooling medicine, and the parts should be kept 

 constantly wet by means of cold water bandages ; for an indo- 

 lent sort of tumor we substitute a solution of vinegar and salt. 

 Continue this treatment for a few days. Should the tumor 

 increase in size, and have a soft, fluctuating feel, apply a poultice 

 of linseed. We must not wait for the tumor to break of itself; 

 but as soon as matter can be distinctly felt, let it be opened at 

 the lower margin, instead of its summit ; by this means the 

 matter can pass off as fast as it forms. It will be prudent to 

 make a pretty large opening, so that no obstruction shall exist to 

 the free and full discharge of matter, which must be pressed out. 

 It is customary in such cases to apply poultices in view of pro- 

 moting the discharge ; instead of poultice, the author uses a 

 paste composed of sugar, soap, and powdered bloodroot, equal 

 parts ; these are to be rubbed together in a mortar, and spread 

 on cotton cloth, about the thickness of a dollar, and thus applied 

 to the tumor, to be secured by bandage. In the majority of 

 cases, however, the author endeavors, after having opened the 

 abscess, to put a stop to the suppurative process in the following 

 manner : Having punctured the tumor, and pressed out as much 

 as possible of morbid accumulation, take a six or eight ounce 

 syringe, and inject the cavity several times with tincture of 

 iodine ; after doing so, cram into the chasm a portion of salt 

 and bloodroot, equal parts ; put a cold water pad on the eminence, 

 and encircle it with a roller, passed around the head and neck in 



