108 WOUNDS AND BRUISES. 



saddle gear, and assisted by heat and perspiration. As treatment, 

 wash the part with warm water and tar soap, Jeyes' soap, or strong 

 carbolic acid soap, and then apply oxide of zinc ointment, salicylic 

 acid ointment (1 to 8 of lard), or a mixture of 1 part liquor plumbi 

 suhacetatis and four parts sweet oil, glycerine, or cream. 



As long as the horse's back continues sore, he should not be 

 worked. 



Harness Galls. 



The harness saddle (or pad) is liable to injure the withers in the 

 same way as a man's saddle, in which case the treatment will be 

 alike for both forms of hurt. The shoulders, breast, and neck may 

 be galled by the collar, or breast harness ; and the sides, by the 

 traces. 



The best preventive measures are: Accurate adjustment of the 

 gear; suitable stuffing; gradually accustoming the animal to the 

 work ; and dressing the parts of the shoulders and neck which 

 have borne pressure, with a saturated solution of alum' in water, 

 diiectly the collar has been removed after work. The frequent 

 application of a strong solution of alum and water, or even of salt 

 and water, will serve to harden the skin. 



Treat as for saddle galls (see preceding section). 



Poll Evil. 



DEFINITION. — Poll evil is an inflamed condition which tends 

 to the formation of deep-seated abscesses, and is found, as a, result 

 of injury, on the top of the neck immediately behind the ears. 



CAUSE. — The commonest cause of poll evil is injury, which, in 

 this case, is usually incurred by the horse hitting himself when 

 passing through low doorways, or low passages, or by being 

 struck. It is often brought on by the cart-horse rubbing his poll 

 against any convenient object, when suffering from irritation due 

 to the wearing of hard, heavy, and ill-fitting head-collars. The 

 parasites (discomyses equi, see page 121) which are often found 

 in scirrhous cord, are said to sometimes gain entrance into the 

 wound of poll evil. With this complication, iodide of potassium 

 should be given as directed on page 127. 



NATURE. — Poll evil, according to Moller, begins as an inflammation of 

 the synovial bursa which lies on the top of the second neck vertebra (the 

 axis) and which consequently enables the suspensory ligament of the head 

 and neck that extends from the top of the head to the withers, to freely 

 play over the bony prominence covered by it. 



