POLL-EVIL. 
155 
The condition primarily consists in the outpouring of inflammatory exudate 
or blood into the bursa. Later parabursitis sets in, and the swelling 
loses its sharply-defined form. The accompanying pain generally causes 
the animal to hold the head extended, low and fixed. Sometimes brain 
symptoms, like those of staggers, appear. Slight fever either accom¬ 
panies the condition from the outset, or develops subsequently. 
If by appropriate treatment asepsis can be maintained, the material 
poured into the bursa may be reabsorbed, and recovery occur in four 
to six weeks. But more frequently infection, produced through skin 
abrasions caused when the bursa was injured, extends. The bursa 
takes on chronic inflammation, its walls and surroundings become 
thickened; small spherical growths, proceeding from the inner surface 
of the bursa, separate after a time, so that the cavity may become filled 
with a great number of rice-like grains. There are frequently large 
masses of these corpora oryzoidea. Vincent erroneously considered 
them to be entozoa. When chronic inflammation has occurred, recoveiy 
is slow; but the working usefulness of the horse may not greatly suffer. 
The swelling in such cases becomes smaller, harder, and less movable 
with the lapse of time. In most cases, however, infectious inflammation 
of the bursa sets in ; the inflammatory appearances increase greatly, 
spread to the neighbouring connective tissue and muscles (paiabuisitis), 
and finally, after acute pain and fever, end in abscess formation and 
perforation of the skin. The finger, introduced into the abscess cavity 
or bursa, detects necrosis of the ligamentum nucha) and purulent 
inflammation of the bursa, which may continue for months and baffle 
the best of treatment. Sometimes inflammatory symptoms, and especially 
pus formation, abate, although purulent fluid, mixed with synovia, 
continues to flow from the small fistulous opening. Necrosis may 
extend to the deeper lying portions of the ligamentum nuchas and cause 
inflammatory intermuscular swelling in the throat, and sometimes 
necrosis of the ridge of the second cervical vertebra. Recovery is most 
tedious, especially if proper treatment is not adopted, and unless m 
valuable subjects, slaughter may be advisable. The thickening left 
produces no difficulty in moving the neck; but permanent stiffness 
occasionally results from adhesion between two vertebrae (Lafosse); and 
fatal cases occur from embolism, from the continuation of the fever, or 
finally, from pus breaking into the vertebral canal. Death then occurs 
suddenly, with general paralysis and epileptiform seizures. 
The course depends principally on whether the tissues remain aseptic. 
Should this be the case recovery follows in four to six weeks; otherwise 
the above described complications are very apt to occur and the disease 
to become chronic. The prognosis is then unfavourable. Special care 
must be exercised in giving an opinion where there is much suppuration, 
