THE WITHERS “29 
its muscular attachments and perichondrium it 
plays the role of a foreign body and thus per- 
petuates secondary fistulous tracts, which, on 
account of the movement to and fro are very 
slow to cicatrize, even after the necrotic parts 
have been extirpated. 
Cartilage is found on the spinous processes 
of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh 
spines, but is most abundant on the fifth and 
sixth. 'To this cartilage is fused the fibers of 
the supraspinous ligament. When the liga- 
ment detaches from disease the cartilaginous 
ends lie bare and being soft often induce sur- 
geons to indulge in reckless curetting when no 
such procedure is indicated. Protruding like 
stumps into the bottom of the abscess cavity 
and being slow to separate from the viable 
bone beneath, these cartilaginous summits are 
exceedingly instrumental in delaying cicatriza- 
tion and a prolific source of recurrences. 
Bones 
The bones of the withers are the spinous 
processes of the dorsal vertebra from the sec- 
ond to the point posteriorly where they reach 
the level of the back. They incline backward. 
They are thin at the anterior border, thick 
posteriorly and expanded dorsally to receive 
the attachment of the supraspinous ligament. 
