320 SYMPTOMS OF POLL-EVIL. [BOOK II. 



was much more rife in our younger days than at 

 present. Pressure from the sharp edges of a new 

 stiff ear-band has brought on poll-evil of an in- 

 veterate kind, within our own cognizance. 



Symptoms. — At first the animal appears restless, 

 throwing his head back and returning it to the 

 former position, as if the effort had occasioned 

 pain. Soon after, it droops the head, holding it 

 now on one side, now on the other ; appears dull 

 about the eyes, and becomes sluggish in its move- 

 ments. In this state it continues a longer or shorter 

 time (even weeks) as the violence may have been 

 greater or less that brought about the evil ; the time 

 depending also in some measure on the height of 

 the pulse — a languid system making of course the 

 slowest advances towards bringing the abscess to 

 maturity. This uneasiness of manner is accom- 

 panied by heat, swelling, and shortly by tension of 

 the part, and increase in the pulsation. As it goes / 

 on, a disposition to flinch from the touch is evinced 

 whenever the part is approached with the hand : if 

 the evil be deep-seated, the swelling is wide, but 

 not so high ; but when nearer the surface, it pre- 

 sents a point, is circumscribed within a well-marked 

 circle, and ultimately tells how necessary it is that 

 the contents should escape, by a throbbing which 

 may be felt at this^oi/?/. Again, to ascertain that 

 the matter is near the surface, apply two fingers 

 alternately on the sides of the tumour, and the 

 matter will recede from side to side. Let it out. 



Cure. — At first this may be attempted, in the 



