824 VETERINAEY HYGIENE 



as the greater part of the strain in ' pulling up ' is thrown 

 on the neck, which may get pinched or sore from pressure. 

 In a collar well fitted it should be possible to introduce the 

 hand beneath the collar and the neck. 



A new collar even when it fits is a possible source of 

 injury, for a collar has to be made by wear to take the 

 impression of the shoulders, falling into depressions and 

 accommodating elevations, and it is only after one has been 

 in use for some time that it really fits. In this respect a 

 new collar is worse than a new saddle. 



From this it is obvious that a collar which fits a horse 

 when in good condition does not fit when he loses condition, 

 and under these circumstances some alteration must be 

 made. The one which commonly suggests itself is putting 

 more stuffing in the collar, or to speak correctly ' re-plug- 

 ging ' it ; but this means when the horse regains condition 

 the collar is too tight and the extra plugging must be 

 removed. The best method of alteration under these 

 circumstances is a false collar, composed of a felt lining 

 secured to the body of the collar by stitches ; this can be 

 removed when the animal puts up flesh. By means of felt 

 any required number of pieces can be introduced, and prac- 

 tically any alteration of a large collar effected. 



Collars are sometimes ' chambered ' the same as a saddle 

 pannel, but it is as a rule very unsatisfactory and we do 

 not recommend it. Pads placed under collars to keep 

 them off a damaged surface are equally unsatisfactory, 

 for the draught comes where the pad rests and produces 

 further injury. It is far better to throw the animal out 

 of work for a few days, and in the meantime fit the 

 collar. 



The stuffing of a collar consists of rye straw ; in course 

 of time this settles down, and the lining gets worn, the 

 collar must then be ' re-plugged ' and relined. 



The injuries produced by collars are represented in the 

 diagram (Fig. 204). 



No. 1 is a common injury generally due to the strain in 

 pole draught pulling the collar down on the neck. It can 



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