296 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



ously to each application. A little salad oil may be necessary 

 to soften the cicatrix after the wound is healed. - 



By repeated bruises of the back part of the saddle, the spinous 

 process of one of the lumbar vertebra; is sometimes injured, and 

 an enlargement takes place, which is very tender, and re- 

 quires to have the saddle elevated or channelled in that part, to 

 secure it from pressure. Sometimes a hard Avhite substance 

 forms, which can only be removed by laying open the skin and 

 dissecting It out. 



Horses sometimes become very lame by travelling In muddy 

 roads, merely, by the mud being splashed up between the arm 

 and chest, where, by friction of the girth against the skin, it 

 causes inflammation and great soreness. The best remedy for 

 this is fomentations, or the saturnine lotion, and rest. 



I have found the following lotion an excellent application in 

 such cases, as well as In allaying the excessive irritation of a 

 blister, when it has been made too strong : — 



Lotion. 



Sulphate of zinc 1 oz. 



Super-acetate of lead 1 oz. 



Water 1 quart. 



Mix. 



• 



Fistula of the Withers. 



This disease comes by very severe bruises from the fore part 

 of the saddle, which being neglected and repeated from time to 

 time, produces at length an inflammation of the spinous pro- 

 cesses of the dorsal vertebras. A deep-seated abscess is the 

 consequence, and the matter penetrates in difterent directions 

 before it arrives at the surface, where at length it causes a 

 tumour, which Is very diff'erent from a common abscess, and 

 always takes a considerable time to be cured. To give vent 

 to the matter Is the first object, and when that has been done, 

 the extent of the injury must be ascertained. When this 

 cannot be done, and this is sometimes the case, the caustic 

 tents must be introduced ; and when the slough or core which 

 this causes, has separated, which will generally be In three or 

 four days, the finger should be introduced as well as a probe, 

 and the direction of the sinuses ascertained. A depending 

 opening for the matter to run off" freely must always be obtained, 

 by cutting open the part freely.* If a clean sore has been thus 

 produced, or if it can be ascertained that there are no more 

 sinuses or pipes, the cure may be effected by mild dressings, or 



* It Is a matter of much importance to lay open tlie sinues as much as can 

 be done with safety. — Eu. ^ 



