276 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



CHAPTER XXL 



FISTULA OF THE WITHERS. 



This is a disease usually found on the withers, 

 but may occur in other parts of the body. It is 

 caused by a bruise, pressure, or injury. Some- 

 times it may be caused by the collar or saddle and 

 is also caused by horses rolling on something hard. 

 Horses with high withers are usually more prone 

 to it. I have also taken notice in my practice that 

 two-thirds of the cases I have treated were mares, 

 I think from their withers being bitten by the 

 horse. The deep parts are affected, by a low form 

 of inflammation, causing some swelling; and by 

 degrees the injured tissue breaks down into mat- 

 ter, and if \he part is not opened will break of its 

 own accord and discharge. There is a tendency of 

 this part to form a quantity of false, unhealthy tis- 

 sue of a soft, spongy texture, and as long as any of 

 it remains the part will not heal, and if it should 

 do so it will soon break out again, and in the mean- 

 time more false tissue will form. It is said that 

 the matter burrows down through the muscles. 

 This is not correct, as I have never seen a case in 

 which matter burrowed, unless between the skin 

 and the flesh, and not often there. If such was the 

 case, in old standing fistulas the matter would find 

 its way out at the bottom instead of the top. The 



