SYMPTOMS 
Typical poll-evil is first seen as a slight buig- 
ing of one or both sides of the poll. There are 
at first no manifestations of pain either on pal- 
pation or in movements of the head. Later as 
the phlegmonous stage begins the movements 
of the head become painful and palpations an- 
noy the patient. Some will oppose any at- 
tempt to touch the region. Before the abscess 
points there are radiating lines along the sides 
of the neck. The head is held extended, later- 
al movements are painful and the whole body 
is turned stiffly, as if the whole axial skeleton 
were anchylosed. 
Later the abscess points and discharges its 
contents over the sides of the neck. The aper- 
ture may then discharge a limited quantity of 
pus for weeks that keeps the region continual- 
ly soiled and irritated. The aperture will fin- 
ally close gradually as the discharges become 
less abundant, but this will eventually be fol- 
lowed by the forming of another abscess, which 
will behave in the same manner as the preced- 
ing one, and so the condition proceeds. While 
these abscesses and tracts are forming, the mus- 
culature involved becomes considerably elevat- 
