138 FISTULA AND POLL-EVIL 
tion. The disease being left to effect incurable 
damage to the bones, particularly to the occipi- 
to-atloid articulation, can not be cured entirely 
by simply resecting the ligament. Where the 
ligament is removed early failures are negligi- 
ble. Recurrences are due to sloughs of the dis- 
tal stump referred to above or to failure to 
remove all of the ligament. 
By avoiding old incurable cases, by resorting 
to effectual restraint and anesthesia, by op- 
erating deliberately and without delay, by at- 
tending skillfully to the wound and by keeping 
in mind the slough of the distal stump, the rsn- 
ical operation for poll-evil is attended ~/' 4 
few failures. It should be a routine measv.‘e 
with every veterinary practitioner. 
And what is writ is writ; 
Would that it were worthier.— Homer. 
THE END 
