FISTULOUS WITHERS. 393 
eradicated. The animal cannot wear a collar; it cannot endure a sad- 
dle ; at length numerous holes are formed upon the enlargement. These 
are the mouths of so many sinuses, and from each exudes a foul dis- 
charge. The poor quadruped evidently suffers greatly; it will almost 
stand still aud starve rather than brave agony by violent motion. 
The only remedy is by operation; make an incision so as to embrace 
the greatest number of holes. Then cut from the other openings into 
the main channel; this done, 
have the sides of the wound 
held back, while the center 
of corruption is cleaned out. 
Such is a very filthy and un- 
pleasant office; if the bones 
are affected, all the diseased 
parts must be removed. 
When slight, the tainted por- 
tions may be scraped away; 
when of long standing, the 
spines of the vertebra have 
been sundered with the saw and thus taken from the body. At any 
risk, none but healthy bone must be suffered to remain; all discolored 
or white portions of the bony structure must be extirpated, and none 
but that which is of a healthy pink color suffered to continue. If a 
particle of unhealthy, osseous growth is left behind, the wound may 
close, but it will break out again, and the disease become as bad as 
ever. 
The cleansing being accomplished, apply the cloth over the wound, 
and keep wet with the lotion formerly directed to be used. 
Sometimes the sinuses will take a dangerous direction, and, favored 
by the action of the shoulder, will burrow from the withers to the chest 
or elbow. Then the knife cannot be employed. Should a pipe incline 
to this course, but be of comparatively short extent, insert a little 
bichloride of mercury down the channel. This is best done by powder- 
ing some of the salt. Dip the elastic probe, which has recently been 
down the sinus, into the powder. Reinsert it, and continue to repeat 
this action till all the bichloride is expended. 
If the sinus should have run its entire course, but not have found an 
exit below, then employ a long guarded seton needle, such as can be 
purchased at all veterinary instrument makers. Insert this in its 
guarded state, and, having pushed it as far as it will go, give, upon 
the end of the handle, a moderately sharp blow; this will force out the 
cutting edge and drive the point through the flesh. Pass a long tape, 
A HORSE WITH FISTULOUS WITHERS IN THE WORST STAGE. 
