POLL-ETIL.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[wiTHERa. 



farriers knew notliing; consequently, if they 

 could Leal the external opening, they imagined 

 they had accomplislied a great feat ; and hence 

 the liability of the parts to become diseased 

 again. Hard and callous edges must be re- 

 moved, and the smaller sinuses laid open, so as 

 to form a cavity. If all this is not thoroughly 

 attended to, and done when the whole seems 

 on the point of healing, a new tumour will 

 suddenly arise as the result of the carious 

 bone, or of some portion of ligament remaining 

 in the abscess. In this case, the experienced 

 veterinarian, who is expert with the knife, and 

 fully acquainted with the anatomy of the parts, 

 will not hesitate how to act. In the hands of 

 the common farrier, much injury has frequently 

 been done from the injudicious use of the knife. 

 Even the cervical ligament has been known to 

 be divided by ignorant pretenders, who having 

 no character to lose, grope on in the dark for 

 the paltry fee of a few shillings, sooner than 

 acknowledge themselves in error. Instead, 

 therefore, of hazarding any of these evils, the 

 practitioner will be justified in this state of the 

 case in introducing setons, even to the number 

 of three or four on each side, going down to 

 the bottom of each sinus, no matter how deep 

 it may be. "When this has been dexterously 

 done, dress the setons with the following mild 

 blister ointment, every day : — 



Cantharides, powdered . . 2 drachms. 



Hog's Lard 3 oz. 



Continue this until the matter becomes of a 

 good consistence. Where cases of great ob- 

 stinacy occur, and this fails to produce a 

 good effect, stronger means must be adopted. 

 Therefore use the following : 



Corrosive Sublimate ... 2 drachms. 

 Water 2 oz. 



Dissolve the sublimate in the water, and in- 

 ject the sinuses with the mixture. If this 

 does not produce any amendment, proceed to 

 scalding, in order to overcome the morbid 

 action, and produce a kind of inflammation, 

 from which healtliy granulations may follow. 

 To obtain this try either of the following : 

 No. 1. 

 Arsenic, finely powdered . . 2 drachms. 

 Digestive Ointment . . . 4 oz. 



No. 2. 

 Corrosive Sublimate ... I5 drachm. 

 Digestive Ointment . . . 4 oz. 

 220 



No. 3. 

 Butter of Antimony ... 3 drachms. 

 Oil of Turpentine . . . . 2 oz. 



To render any of the above properly applica- 

 ble melt either of them in an iron ladle to a 

 scalding heat, and, as the horse lies on the 

 ground, carefully pour the liquid into the 

 wound, putting in, at the same time, a little 

 tow. At the end of four or five days, slough- 

 ing will commence. After this apply digestive 

 ointment, and treat as a common wound. If the 

 wound should not be going on satisfactorily ap- 

 ply the scalding composition again. Splints ex- 

 ternally applied by pressure, have been found of 

 great benefit in the treatment of Poll-evil. In 

 the fifth volume of the Veterinarian, Mr. A. 

 Gray says, "A mare was sent to me, and I 

 proceeded to examine the extent of the disease. 

 I found two deep sinuses, one on each side of 

 the neck, the bones of which could be dis- 

 tinctly felt with the probe. After cleaning 

 away the matter I took a scalpel and laid both 

 orifices open, in an oblique direction down- 

 wards ; then, having fomented the parts with 

 warm water, I dressed the wounds with tinc- 

 ture of myrrh and aloes ; and, in order to 

 apply pressure to the parts — for in this I 

 founded all my hopes of success — I had two 

 pieces of wood prepared, about twelve inches 

 Ions: and three broad; thicker in the middle 

 than at the edges, which were rounded off", and 

 also a long flannel bandage, four inches broad. 

 I then placed two pledgets of tow next the 

 wounds, putting on the pieces of wood, one on 

 each side, and then applied the bandage over 

 all, and as tightly as I could, without im- 

 peding deglutition. It is necessary while 

 putting on the bandage, to keep the nose ex- 

 tended, in order to adapt the bandage more 

 perfectly to the part, and apply it more 

 closely. I removed the bandage, night and 

 morning, and had the parts well fomented and 

 dressed with the tincture. In the course of 

 four weeks the mare was well." 



FISTULOUS WITHERS. 

 This disease is, in general, the consequence 

 of neglect, or the careless manner in which the 

 saddle is fixed to the back of the horse. AVhen 

 it is too wide in the trees, the pressure, 

 coming repeatedly on the withers with double 

 force, the parts become bruised and pinched, 



