PREFACE 
There are several reasons why a manual on 
this disease should be a part of the vetermary 
literature of the day, the chief one being that 
fistula of the withers is a very prevalent disease 
of horses and thus exacts a big toll from the 
horse industry. Another reason for bringing 
it especially to the attention of readers of vet- 
erinary literature is the deplorable fact that 
its treatment has never been standardized in 
the veterinary profession. Almost all long 
known and common complaints of domestic 
animals of a serious character are handled ac- 
cording to definite plans, differing only in 
minor details. The many conferences of our 
teachers of surgery in association work, and 
the interchange of ideas made possible by the 
splendid periodicals which all progressive vet- 
erinarians now read, as well as the profusion 
of all kinds of literature that reaches everyone, 
has fortunately created a standard of treat- 
ment for nearly all of the more important ail- 
ments of animals. 
Not so, however, with fistula of the withers. 
Each seems to have his own plan of treatment 
and few, indeed, claim even a fair degree of 
