II. DISEASES OF THE NECK. 
Anatomy. In the domestic animals the cervical vertebrae, which are com¬ 
paratively long, are surrounded by well-developed muscular tissues, and thus 
protected from injury. Anteriorly, i.v., below the cervical portion. of the 
vertebral column, lie the trachea and oesophagus, the jugular and carotid, with 
the large nerve trunks of the vagus and sympathetic ; behind the vertebiae, the 
ligamentum nuchae, which gives attachment to many of the muscles of the 
neck. The latter consists of a round portion forming the upper border of the 
neck, and a flat portion which extends in the middle line from the vertebrae 
to the cordiform portion. The collective muscles of the neck are sunounded 
by two fasciae or aponeuroses, which extend to the withers and back, and 
become attached to the cordiform portion of the ligamentum nuchae. In 
cattle the skin is folded at the lower end of the neck to form the so-callec 
dewlap. 
I.—WOUNDS AND BRUISES OF THE TISSUES OF 
THE NECK. 
Wounds confined to the skin are of no great consequence. Deepei 
reaching injuries may involve important organs. To this class belong 
(1) Bruises and wounds of the fascia of the neck and of the liga¬ 
mentum nuchae. When healing results by primary intention, these cases 
are also unimportant, but should pus formation occur, the tendinous struc¬ 
tures (fascia, ligamentum nuchae) usually become necrotic. Separation of 
dead particles requires a long time, and during the process fresh tracts of 
tissue are often destroyed. Healing is thus retarded and rendered difficult. 
This is especially frequent in injuries to the poll, withers, ligamentum 
nuchte, or adjacent fasciae, which lead to chronic pus formation and fistuhe. 
The process often starts at the withers and extends thence to the liga¬ 
mentum nuchae and muscles of the neck ; these conditions are treated 
of under “ Diseases of the Back.” It is here only necessary to lemaik 
that all such cases are treated by thorough asepsis, and preventing as far 
as possible the burrowing of wound discharges. 
(2) Injuries to the large blood-vessels of the neck, carotid and 
jugular. Injuries to the carotid by sabre cuts, thrusts from lances or other 
sharp objects, as well as those inflicted during venesection may endanger 
life, by producing fatal bleeding or suffocation. Injuries to the jugular vein 
are* less grave, though its complete section may lead to fatal haemorrhage ; 
while there is also a danger of air entering the blood stream, an accident 
