DISEASES or THE WITHERS. 



763 



Fig. B61.— 6th Layer of tlie Withers. 

 pL— Lamellar portion of the cervical ligament, pf.— Funicular portion, te.— Trans- 

 verse spinalis of the neck, ac— Spinous processes of the dorsal vertebrae, t.— Tuber- 

 osities of the same, te.— Transverse spinalis of the back, ie.— Common Intercostal, 

 c— Ribs. gd. — Great serratus. it. — Inter-transversalis. i. — External Intercostal mus- 

 cle. 1.— Inter-spinalis ligament. 



formation of the ailment recognized aa a true " diseased withers," 

 with the habitual severity which is its characteristic. 



The origiaating causes of the diseases of the withers may be 

 divided into the predisposing and the occasional. Among the 

 first are to be noted a defective anatomical conformation of the 

 region ; the kind of work performed by the animal, and the degree 

 of care he receives. For example, when the withers are low, thick 

 and fleshy, as in heavy draught horses, the saddle of the harness 

 has a tendency to slip forward and cause chafing and excoriation, 

 an accident from which, however, animals with high, sharp withers 

 are by no means exempt ; for though, for the reason stated, they 

 are less liable than those of the other conformation, the advantaga 

 is offset by the fact that the skin is exposed to a more unequal 

 pressure, especially if that part of the harness is not properly 

 padded and fitted, and presses irregularly on the soft tissues, 

 upon which it rests. 



