306 THE HORSE. 



amount of lameness during the progress of the disease, while after 

 the anchylosis takes place the want of action is complete. An 

 examination by the hand of the point of the shoulder would readily 

 detect so large a growth of bone as this ; but smaller ones are often 

 thrown out beneath the mass of muscles surrounding the shoulder 

 joint, and consequently beyond the reach of the most accomplished 

 finger. The treatment should be on the same principle «s for 

 spavin, omitting the subcutaneous scarification, which is not here 

 practicable on account of the nature of the joint. Blisters, and 

 especially with the biniodide of mercury, will be the most likely to 

 succeed, but in most cases the cure will be only partial. 



FISTULA OF THE WITHERS.* 



When a saddle has been allowed to press upon the spinous 

 processes of the dorsal vertebra;, it produces inflammation, which, 

 if neglected, leads to the formation of an abscess. But the situa- 

 tion of the part is such that the matter cannot escape, even if the 

 skin over the points of the bones is perforated, and it has a ten- 

 dency, by the force of gravity, to burrow down among the muscles 

 which connect the shoulder-blade with the trunk. The conse- 

 quence is, that there is extensive inflammation, and often lameness 

 of the shoulder, which could readily have been prevented by using 

 proper care before the mischief was done, or removed by the adop- 

 tion of suitable treatment afterwards before the disease is con- 

 firmed. 



The symptoms in the early stage (that is, before a fistula is 

 established) are. merely an enlargement of the ends of the spinous 

 processes, accompanied by heat and tenderness, hut these go on 

 until an abscess forms, which may lie known to the touch by the 

 fluctuating nature of the sensation which it gives on pressure 

 by the fingers of each hand. As soon as this is made out, an 

 opening should be made as low down as possible on the right side, 

 taking care that it will allow all the matter to run out as fast as it 

 forms. The reason why the right side should be chosen is, that 

 most horses lie down on that side; but if the subject of fistulous 

 withers is in the habit of lying on the left side, the opening 

 should be made there in preference. When an actual fistula has 

 been established, and the matter points before or behind the 

 shoulder-blade, a sufficiently large opening should at once be made, 

 taking care again that there is no pouch below it which will 

 permit any accumulation. It is better to divide even important 

 muscles than to suffer this to exist. In recent cases the establish- 

 ment of this dependent opening will alone suffice to effect a cure ; 

 but in those of long standing, the lining of the fistulous passage 



* Commonly called in the United States, Thiselo. — Editor. 



