472 



horse striking his head against the hayrack, heams of the ceiling, low 

 doors, etc. Fistulous withers are seen mostly in those horses that 

 have 'thick necks as well as those that are very high in the withel^s; 

 or among saddle horses, those that are very low on the withers, the 

 saddle here riding forward and bruising the parts. They are often 

 caused by bad-fitting collars or saddles, by direct injuries from blows, 

 and from the horse rolling upon rough or sharp stones. In either of 

 these locations, ulcers of the skin, or simple abscesses, if not prop- 

 erly and punctually treated, may become fistuhe. The pus burrows 

 and finds lodgment deep down between the muscles, and only escapes 

 when the sinus becomes surcharged or during motion of the parts, 

 when the matter is squeezed out. 



>%mpto?ns.— These of course will vary according to the progress 

 made by the fistula. Following an injury we may often notice sore- 

 ness or stiffness of the front legs, and upon careful examination of the 

 withers we will see small tortuous lines running from the point of 

 irritation downward and backward over the region of the shoulder. 

 These are superficial lymphatics, and are swollen and painful to the 

 touch In a day or two a swelling is noticed on one or both sides of 

 the dorsal vertebra3, which is hot and painful and rapidly enlarging. 

 The pain may at this time subside somewhat, the stiffness disappear, 

 but the swelling continues and increases in size. It fluctuates upon 

 pressure, and either opens or its contents become inspissated, dry up, 

 leaving a tumor that gradually develops the common characteristics 

 of a fibrous tumor. AVhen the enlargement has opened we should 

 carefully examine its cavity, as on its condition will wholly depend 



our treatment. 



In the earliest stage, when there is soreness, enlarged lymphatics, 

 but no well-marked swelling, the trouble may be frequently aborted. 

 To do this requires both general and local treatment. A physic should 

 be o-iven and the horse receive 1 ounce of powdered saltpeter three 

 times a day in his water or feed. If the fever runs high, 20-drop 

 doses of tincture of aconite root every two hours may be administered. 

 Locally we will find much relief by pouring cold water from a height 

 upon the inflamed spot for an hour at a time three or four times a 

 day Cooling lotions, muriate of ammonia, or saltpeter and water, 

 sedative washes, as tincture of opium and aconite, chloroform lini- 

 ment, or camphorated oil are also to be frequently applied. I have 

 seen a number of cases presenting these initial symptoms of fistula 

 thus aborted that required no other treatment than the avoidance of 

 the original cause. AVhen, however, the formation of pus is inevita- 

 ble this must be hurried as much as possible. Hot fomentations and 

 poultices are to be constantly used, and as soon as fluctuation can be 

 plainly felt the abscess wall is to be opened at its loivest point. In 

 this procedure lies our hope of a speedy cure. If the parts are so laid 

 open by the knife that the pus must escape as fast as it is formed, and 



