108 WOUNDS AND BRUISES. 



gear, and assisted by heat and perspiration. As treatment, we may- 

 wash the part with warm water and tar soap, Jeyes' soap, or strong 

 carbolic acid soap, and then apply oxide of zinc ointment, salicylic 

 acid ointment (1 to 8 of lard), or a mixture of 1 part liquor plumbi 

 subacetatis and four parts sweet oil, glycerine, or cream. 



As long as the horse's back continues sore, he should not be 

 worked. 



Harness Galls. 



The harness saddle (or pad) is liable to injure the withers in the 

 same way as a man's saddle, in which case the treatment will be 

 alike for both forms of hurt. The shoulders, breast, and neck may 

 be galled by the collar, or breast harness; and the sides, by the 

 traces. 



The best preventive measures are : Accurate adjustment of the 

 gear; suitable stuffing; gradually accustoming the animal to the 

 work ; and dressing the parts of the shoulders and neck which have 

 borne pressure, with a saturated solution of alum in water, directly 

 the collar has been removed after work. The frequent application 

 of a strong solution of alum and water, or even of salt and water, 

 will serve to harden the skin. 



Treat as for saddle galls (see preceding section). 



Poll Evil. 



DEFINITION. — Poll evil is an inflamed condition which tends to 

 the formation of deep-seated abscesses, and which is found, as a 

 result of injury, on the top of the neck immediately behind the ears. 



CAUSE. — I am inclined to think that the sole cause of poll evil 

 is injury, which, in this case, is usually incurred by the horse 

 hitting himself when pasing through low doorways, or low passages, 

 or by being struck. Percivall states that it is often brought on by 

 the cart-horse rubbing his poll against any convenient object, when 

 suffering from irritation due to the wearing of hard, heavy, and 

 ill-fitting head-collars. The parasites (discomyses equi, see page 

 121) which are often found in scirrhous cord, are said to sometimes 

 gain entrance into the wound of poll evil. With this complication, 

 iodide of potassium should be given as directed on page 127. 



NATURE. — Poll evil, according to Moller, begins as an inflammation of the 

 synovial bursa which lies on the top of the second neck vertebra (the axis) and 

 which consequently enables the s-uspensory ligament of the head and neck 

 that extends from the to]i of the head to the withers, to freely play over the 

 bony prominence covered by it. 



SYMPTOMS.— At first the swelling is about the size of a mole ; 

 hence the German name, Maulwurfsgescliwulst (mole-swelling). It 



