908 



THE GEKESEE FARMER. 



POLL EYIL. 



" Poll enl resnlte either from neglect or abuse." 



Poll evil generally makes its appearance about 

 the nape of the neck, in the form of an inflammatory 

 swelling, which, if not arrested, ends in abscess and 

 fistula. It generally proceeds from blows or bruises. 

 Horses that are located in low-roofed stables are apt 

 to strike the poll against the beams or ceiling; and a 

 frequent repetition of the act always ends in indura- 

 tion or poll evil Some horses are very restless in 

 the staU, and are constantly jerking their heads up- 

 ward, especially if tethered too short; in consequence, 

 the parts which come in contact with the upper part 

 of the head-staU are bruised ; the injury is not often 

 perceived until considerable tumefaction and un- 

 healthy suppuration have set in ; the case then be- 

 comes exceedingly difficult to cure, and may wear out 



feel, apply a poultice of linseed. TTe must not wait 

 for the tumor to break of itself; but as soon as mat- 

 ter can be distinctly felt, let it be opened at the lower 

 margin, instead of its summit ; by this means the 

 matter can pass ofi' as fast as it forms. It will be 

 prudent to make a pretty large opening, so that no 

 obstruction shall e3dst to the free and full discharge 

 of matter, which mtist be pressed out. It is customary 

 in such cases to apply poultices in view of promoting 

 the discharge ; instead of poultice, the author uses a 

 paste composed of sugar, soap, and powdered blood- 

 root, equal parts; these are to be rubbed together in 

 a mortar, and spread on cotton cloth, about tie thick- 

 ness of a dollar, and thus applied to the tumor, to be 

 secured by bandage. In the majority of cases, how- 

 ever, the author endeavors, after having opened the 

 abscess, to put a stop to the suppurative process in 

 the following manner : Having punctured the tumor, 



the patience of all concerned. Excessive friction on and pressed out as much as possible of morbid accu- 



the nape of the neck, from bridle or halter, or the 

 pressure of either on the parts, from their being fas- 

 tened on the head too tightly, are most fertUe in pro- 

 ducing this malady. Other causes are operative in 

 producing poll evil that we shall just barely aUude 

 to (merely in view of prevention). It is weU known 

 that the poll is a part which very seldom makes the 

 acquaintance of either brush or currycomb ; yet it is 

 the receptacle for considerable dust and filth : owing 

 to the accumulation of either, a cutaneous eruption 

 arises, the itching sensation of which causes the horse 

 to rub whenever he can get a chance ; the evil goes 

 on, tmtil what was at first superficial now becomes 

 deep-seated, by mere contiguity of tissue. The bung- 

 ling and oftentimes cruel manner of forcing a small 

 collar on a large horse — puUing first this way and 

 then that, now a tug, then a jerk, and perhaps a blow 

 with the whip stick — is not inoperative, to say the 

 least, in producing this malady. Some men are in 

 the constant habit of bracing the horse's head down- 

 ward with the martingale, so as to bring the mouth 

 and chest in close proximity ; and they seldom con- 

 sider that the strain comes on the horses poU : the 

 pressure of the bridle from without, and the unyield- 

 ing nature of the bones of the neck, braise the inter- 

 mediate soft tissues, and poll evil is the restilL Not- 

 withstanding all this, poU 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 inclining to one side; in the sup- 

 ptirative stage, and when the matter is deep-seated, 

 scarcely any fluctuation can be felt ; when, however, 

 the matter Ues directly beneath the skin, or in the 

 cellular tissues, the reverse is the case. The suppu- 

 rative finally runs into the ulcerative stage ; we then 

 observe chasms and sinuses, similar 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 anti- 



mulation, 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 the usual manner, as tight as 

 circumstances permit. On the following day the 

 bandage is to be removed, the part washed and 

 dressed, and a small quantity of tincture of iodine 

 injected, and bandaged as before. This treatment 

 must be followed up for several days, at the end of 

 which, should the discharge have decreased, and other 

 symptoms appear favorable, the chances are in favor 

 of a cure. Our object in this treatment is to excite 

 adhesive inflammation, by means of which, accom- 

 panied by pressure, the surfaces of the interior are 

 glued together. 



Cases, however, occur which set at defiance all our 

 skiU. In such the ligamentary, tendinous, fleshy and 

 bony structures are involved, perhaps accompanied 

 with fistulas, running in various directions, Uke so 

 many pipes or drains ; and the difficulty of closing 

 the latter is, that they acquire a mucous lining ; and 

 aU mucous canals are very difficult to unite. The 

 only remedy in such cases is the knife: the part must 

 be laid open and all fistulous pipes dissected out 

 Should a portion of the bone be diseased, that must 

 also be removed. The chasm is then to be cleansed 

 with a solution of chloride of lime, or pyroligneoua 

 acid ; its edges brought together by suture, leaving 

 an orifice at the lower part for the discharge of 

 matter. 



Oar object must stiU be to adhere by adhesion, as 

 already described. Should we fail in this, and the 

 part assume a morbid type, inject and dress it with 



Spirits of turpentine, ^ 

 PvToligneous acid, > equal parts. 

 Linseed oU, J 



Fir balsam has also a very good eSect on indolent 

 and morbid parts. So soon, however, as the parts 



phlogistic treatment is the best The patient should show a disposition to heal, dress with tincture of aloes 

 be kept on a light diet, have a dose of cooling medi- 1 and myrrL 

 cine, and the parts should be kept constantly wet by 



means of cold water bandages ; for an indolent 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 £t soft, fluctuating 



Our treatment must not be altogether of a local 

 character; we must attend to the general health, and 

 keep the bowels soluble. Sulphur, sassafras and 

 cream of tartar are the best remedies. — Modem, 

 Horse Doctor, by Dr. Dadd. 



