138 



"muscles and form of neck. 



THE MUSCLES AND PROPER FORM OF THE NECK 



The bones of the neck serve as the frame- work to which nu 

 merous muscles concerned in the motions of the head and neck 

 are attached. The weight of the head and neck is supported by 

 the ligament without muscular aid, and without fatigue to the 

 animal ; but in order to raise the head higher, or to lower it, or 

 to turn it in every direction, a complicated system of muscles is 

 necessary. 



The splenius muscle (c. Fig. 12) is the principal one concerned 

 in this. It gives its bulk to the neck above, and the beauty of 

 that member depends mainly upon . it. It was admirably devel- 

 oped in the horse of whose neck the annexed cut (Fig. 25) gives 

 an accurate delineation. 



Fig. 25. 



made, and deep sinuses are formed in various directions, rendering it alnost, 

 impossible to get a depending opening. 



Tlie abscess sliould not be opened till the matter is thoroughly formed, 

 and then a depending opening should be made, through which a seton may 

 be passed. The great error frequently made in the treatment of poll-evil is, 

 that these openings are not made half large enough, so that much of the 

 pua flows in another direction, and there forms sinuses. Now, the chief art 

 in the treatment of this disease is to use the bistoury freely, to lay all the 

 sinuses open as much as possible, and to throw them together ; then to make 

 the lower opening extremely large, and as low down as possible, large 

 enough, indeed, for two fingers to be inserted. If the bone is injured, it will 

 be necessary to apply some caustic application, in order to cause a healthy 

 slough. Pressure is found very useful in keeping the sides of the wound 

 together, and preventing the formation of sinuses. With this view, i' ''as 

 been recommended to apply a tight compress, by means of bandages, round 

 the part, but it is extremely inconvenient to apply them in consenuence of 

 the windpipe interfering. 



