CASES OF POLL-EVIL 
709 
cough being very slightly relieved ; but from this period it gra- 
dually decreased in frequency, and at the present moment the 
horse’s wind is perfectly sound. At no time during the exhi- 
bition of the mercury was there any loss of appetite, or the 
bowels at all acted upon. 
The next are three cases of incipient poll-evil : the first a six- 
year-old mare, which came under treatment on the 20th of May, 
with painful enlargement on each side the cervical ligament, of 
the size of a hen’s egg. The hydriodate of potash with ung. 
hydrarg. fort., in the proportion of 3> ss 1° 5j of ung. hydrarg. 
was well rubbed in once a-day for three weeks, without any 
marked benefit. The ointment was then washed off, and the 
hydriodate with sapo. lini. in the above proportion well applied 
for a month daily; at the end of which time the enlargement had 
subsided, and the head was carried in its natural position. In 
the two following cases (both mares) there was enlargement 
and evident fluctuation. They were cured, in the course of six 
weeks, by the regular application of the hydriodate and sapo. 
lini. well rubbed in every day. 
Having seen The Veterinarian in the hands of many 
agriculturists, I beg, with all due deference, to offer my opinion, 
that a frequent cause of poll-evil (at least in that part of the 
county of Salop in which I am located) may be traced to the 
use of a sort of martingale, attached by hooks to each side of the 
chain rein of the bridle of the cart-horse, and by a strong strap 
round the front and lower part of the collar; and l think the 
injury is produced not more by the fixed position of the head 
than by the jerk given to the collar, and, consequently, to this 
same martingale by any sudden springing forward which the 
animal may make, as from the stroke of a whip, &c., the horse 
in going indolently along generally pulling the collar forward in 
order to relieve the different muscles of the neck. This is not 
the only loss the owner is likely to sustain ; for I think it im- 
possible that so much weight can be thrown into the collar as 
with the horse’s head more at liberty, and in drawing heavy 
weights up hill he is very likely to be induced to gib. 
. 1 must now, Sir, having trespassed too long on your time and 
patience, beg to subscribe myself, 
Your obedient servant, &c. 
HORSE CAUSE: A CASE OF SPAVIN. 
Mr. Cocke urn, with whom was Mr. Wordsworth, conducted 
the case for the plaintiff: and Mr. Thesiger and Mr. Whitehurst 
appeared for the defendant. 
vol. xv. 
5 c 
