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POLL-EVIL. 
swelling and pain. Unless in valuable animals treatment is seldom 
justified when suppuration has extended to deep-seated structures and 
the lower portions of the ligamentum nuchae have become necrotic. 
Treatment. In recent aseptic conditions of the bursa, inflammation 
should be combated by cold antiseptic applications, made with a towel 
folded several times and fastened to the mane. Slight steady pressure 
also favours reabsorption of extravasated material. The halter must 
be removed, and the animal placed loose in a box, and kept from 
work. Where a box cannot be obtained, a neck strap may be applied 
instead of a head collar. As soon as acute inflammatory symptoms have 
somewhat receded, gentle massage with mildly stimulating applications 
is indicated. Blistering with sublimate or iodide of mercury ointment 
has been recommended, but should only be practised with great caution. 
As soon as abscess formation reveals infection, it is advisable to 
provide for discharge of pus at the earliest possible moment, but care 
must be taken not to injure the occipital artery. Should this or one of 
its branches be cut, bleeding may generally be stopped by ligature or 
compress. The incision must be wide and deep enough to allow free 
exit to the matter, and, if necessary, counter openings may be made and 
setons or drainage-tubes inserted. When necrosis of the ligamentum 
nuchse has taken place, section of the funicular portion may become 
necessary; it is easily effected even in the standing position with a 
tenotome. The necrotic material is removed, and the pus washed from 
the abscess and bursa once or twice daily. The fear that difficulty in 
lifting the head may follow is said by Hertwig to be unfounded. He 
declares that even after resection of portions of the ligamentum nucha* 
the patient soon lifts its head as high and moves it as freely as before. 
Subcutaneous section of the ligamentum nucha, recommended by 
Lafosse, can only be advised where there is some prospect of main¬ 
taining asepsis. But section of the ligamentum nucha is not to be 
lightly adventured on. Under any circumstances, division of the skin 
across the top of the neck is to be avoided, as it gives rise to wounds, 
which heal with difficulty. In disease at the side of the neck, the knife 
must be employed in a free manner, and, where possible, the fistula laid 
open to its termination. The same courageous use of the knife is called 
for in providing exit for pus burrowing amongst the muscles of the neck. 
Infection may extend to the occipital bone and occipito-atloid ligament, 
causing arthritis and septic meningitis, with compression of the spinal 
cord. As a rule, treatment is not justified in cases of this kind, though, 
where the bone and ligament are alone involved, free removal of diseased 
tissue with the knife and curette, followed by continuous irrigation with 
an antiseptic solution might be tried. 
