174 THE CHEST. 



FISTULOUS WITHERS. 



When the saddle has been suffered to press long upon the withers, a tumour will 

 be formed, hot and exceedingly tender. It may sometimes be dispersed by the cool- 

 ing applications recommended in the treatment of poll-evil ; but if, in despite of these, 

 the swelling should remain stationary, and especially if it should become larger and 

 more tender, warm fomentations and poultices, and stimulating embrocations, should 

 be diligently applied, in order to hasten the formation of pus. As soon as that can 

 be fairly detected, a seton should be passed from the top to the bottom of the tumour, 

 so that the whole of the matter may be evacuate^d, and continue to be discharged as 

 it is afterwards formed ; or the knife may be freely used, in order to get at the liottom 

 of every sinus. The knife has succeeded many a time when the seton has failed. 

 The after treatment must be precisely that which was recommended for a similar dis- 

 ease in the poll. 



In neglected fistulous withers the ulcer may be larger and deeper, and more destruc- 

 tive than in poll-evil. It may burrow beneath the shoulder-blade, and the pus appear 

 at the point of the shoulder or the elbow ; or the bones of the Avithers may become 

 carious. 



Very great improvement has taken place in the construction of saddles for common 

 use and in the cavalry service. Certain rules have now been laid down from which 

 the saddler should never deviate, and attending to wliich the animal is saved from 

 much suffering, and the mechanic from deserved disgrace. 



The first rule in the fitting of the saddle is, that it should bear upon the back, and 

 not on the spine or the withers, for these are parts that will not endure pressure. 



Next in universal application is the understanding that the saddle should have 

 everywhere an equal bearing, neither tilting forward upon the points nor backward 

 upon the seat. 



When the saddle is on, and the girths fastened, there should remain space sufficient 

 between the withers and the pommel for the introduction of the hand underneath the 

 latter. 



The points of the tree should clip or embrace the sides without pinching them, or so 

 standing outward that the pressure is all downwards, and upon one place, instead of 

 being in a direction inwards as well as downwards, so as to be distributed \iniformly 

 over every part of the point that touches the side. Horses that have low and thick 

 withers are most likelj^ to have tliera injured, in consequence of the continual riding 

 forward of the saddle, and its consequent pressure upon them. Fleshy and fat shoul- 

 ders and sides are also subject to become hurt by the points of the trees cither pinch- 

 ing them from being too narrow in the arch, or from the bearing being directly down- 

 ward upon them. 



Injury occasionally results from the interruption which a too forward saddle presents 

 to the working or motion of the shoulder, and the consequent friction the soft parts 

 sustain between the shoulder-blade inwardly, and the points of the saddle-tree 

 outwardly.* 



WARBLES, SITFASTS, AND SADDLE GALLS. 



On other parts of the back, tumours and very troublesome ulcers may be produced 

 by the same cause. Those resulting from the pressure of the saddle are called icar- 

 bks, and, when tliey ulcerate, they frequently become siifasfs. Warbles are small 

 circular bruises, or extravasations of blood, where there has been an undue pressure 

 of the saddle or harness. If a horse is subject to these tumours, the saddle should 

 remain on him two or three hours after he has returned to the stable. It is only for a 

 certain time, however, tliat this will perfectly succeed, for by the frequent application 

 of the pressure the skin and the cellular substance nre bruised or otherwise injured, 

 and a permanent sore nr tumour, of a very annoying description, takes plnce. The 

 centre of the sore n-radually loses its vitality. A se]var.ition takes place from the sur- 

 rounding integument, and there is a circular piece of dried and hard skin remaining 

 in the centre. This is curiously called a navel o-all, because it is opposite to the 

 navel. No effort must be made to tear or dissect it off, but stimulating poultices o' 

 fomentations, or, if these fail, a mild blister, will cause a speedy separation; and the 



* Pcrcivall's Hippopathology, vol. !., p. 199. 



