FISTULOUS WITHERS. 20 7 



the living surfaces to which they are applied ; and 

 often increase the mischief they should heal. 



There is, however, another and a better mode of 

 treating poll evil ; and this speedier plan principally 

 consists in the fearless employment of the knife. 



With regard to the knife, no hesitation should be 

 exhibited in its use when poll evil is to be cured ; but 

 every pipe, however large or small, ought to be slit 

 up, as the healing process is then quickened ; care 

 being used to spare those important arteries which run 

 upon the wings of the first bone of the neck. The 

 opening being large, advantage is taken of it to 

 remove any sloughing portions of tendon, &c. : and 

 any accumulation of foul, thick pus. Then mild 

 caustic is applied to the exposed surfaces where they 

 seem to require it; the part is afterwards treated as a 

 common wound. This is a very proper and efficient 

 mode of practice ; but where the practitioner is not 

 fitly instructed, the system of setoning is the safest. 



FISTULOUS WITHERS. 



If the saddle has not been properly chambered, or 

 the padding has shifted, so that the saddle presses 

 upon the edge of the withers; if the horse is struck 

 violently on this part, or has a habit of rolling in its 

 stall; this* affection may be produced — in fact, any 

 injury which can produce contusion may end in fis- 

 tulous withers. In the first instance it is a swelling. 

 A perfect abscess follows ; and if that be neglected, as 

 in the previous disease, pipes or sinuses result, and 

 the existence of these constitute fistulous withers. 

 Therefore any swelling upon the withers should be 

 freely cut open : thus converting that which either is 



