170 The Iseases of Animals 
should be injected into the fistula about once in eight 
or ten days. Another good method of treatment is to 
use no water on the fistula after opening, but to swab 
out with dry absorbent cotton and inject pure tincture of 
iodine once daily. There are many other good remedies. 
A vaccine is now made from the germs that cause 
pus. This vaccine gives excellent results in most cases 
of fistule and other cases of chronic or severe pus infec- 
tion. The vaccine is usually injected in the jugular vein 
or under the skin. It should be given by a veterinarian, 
Fistulous Withers 
This disease, frequently called “thistelow,” is prac- 
tically the same condition as poll-evil, except that it 
occurs on the withers, or lower and back part of the 
top of the neck. The causes are believed to be the 
same,— bruises or injuries, allowing germs to invade the 
tissues. The treatment is the same except that here 
it is easier to secure good drainage. If possible, get an 
opening at the bottom and top or on both sides of the 
withers or neck. In some cases, when the healing 
process is slow, a seaton or tape passed through the 
fistula and left there gives excellent results. The 
seaton should be shifted to a clean place each day, the 
wound well washed, and antiseptics used. When the 
fistula is nearly filled up, the seaton should be removed. 
In fistulous withers, the spinous processes of the 
back-bone may become diseased, and it is necessary to 
cut them off before the sore will heal. It sometimes 
requires months to cure a bad case of this disease. 
