THE WITHERS 23 
supraspinous ligament, each of which is but a 
continuation of the other; the dorsoscapular; 
and the interspinous ligaments, which curtain 
off the spaces between the spinous processes. 
The ligamentum nuche is a strong, powerful 
apparatus composed of yellow elastic tissue and 
divided into two distinct parts: the funicular 
portion and the lamellar portion. The former 
which is of especial importance in fistula of the 
withers and poll-evil, extends from the occip- 
ital bone anteriorly to the summit of the 
withers posteriorly where it becomes white 
fibrous tissue and is continued over the spines 
of the sacrum as the posterior part of the sup- 
raspinous ligament. It is composed of two 
lateral halves each of which is -heavy and 
flattened at the withers but gradually becom- 
ing round and somewhat smaller toward the 
occipital crest to which it is attached to the 
occipital protuberance. Two burse are 
found associated with this structure—one 
at the atlas and the other in the dorsal region. 
The atlantal bursa is the seat of poll-evil while 
the dorsal or supraspinous bursa is the location 
of typical fistula of the withers. The atlantal 
lies between the ligament and the dorsal sur- 
face of the atlas. The dorsal bursa is usually 
over the third dorsal spine but sometimes ex- 
tends backward as far as the crest, that is, over 
