THE FORMATION OF SADDLE-GALLS. 
235 
fluctuating, and without sharp borders, as when blood and lymph are 
freely poured into the loose subcutis. Should this condition develop 
under the fascia, the swelling is less sharply defined and more tense. 
The lesion, when situated on the withers or spine and caused, as 
indicated, by bruising of the skin covering the superior processes of the 
vertebrae is less sharply defined, more dispersed, and often shows fluctua¬ 
tion. Although it may not be painful at first, it becomes so if the 
vertebrae are injured. While lesions of the withers and spine aie generally 
subcutaneous, those of the saddle-bed are generally cutaneous. I iom 
pressure and friction of the girths and other parts of the harness, liaii 
and epidermis are often rubbed off. If bruising also occurs, cutaneous 
swelling ensues. The condition is one of cutaneous or subcutaneous 
bruising, which sometimes consists in rupture of the tissues and smaller 
vessels, less frequently in injury of larger vessels and consequent 
extravasation. 
Symptoms. Saddle-galls are best discovered half an hour to one hour 
after unsaddling; it usually takes this time for their appearance. They 
generally vary in size from a sixpence to a five-shilling piece; are tense, 
hard, somewhat painful, warm, and sharply marginated. I he laigei aie 
always flat. Should the hair over the saddle-bed be wet, these points of 
pressure dry first, producing isolated dry spots. Not infrequently they 
are itchy, and the animal bites or rubs them. Bruises of the subcutis 
are diffuse, sometimes oedematous, sometimes fluctuating, and are usually 
more painful, especially on pressure. Saddle-galls are best detected by 
passing the hand over the withers, spine, and the saddle-bed, when 
thickening, firmness, or tenderness may be discovered. When the 
tender spot is touched or pressed the animals bend the back or move 
away. This is specially noteworthy in the region of the withers, for 
the detection of such swellings in this site is otherwise somewhat 
difficult. 
Disease implicating the ligamentum nuchse is characterised by great 
swelling and profuse pus formation, swelling of the neighbouring lymph 
vessels, and of those on the shoulder and over the ribs. Suppuration 
and necrosis in the depths is indicated by exuberant, flabby, dark-red 
granulations, which bleed easily; whilst implication of the superior 
spinous processes is shown by the greater degree of pain. Necrosis of 
these processes, or of the cartilage covering them, can often be detected 
by palpation. Where the skin has become necrotic, it is hard and leather¬ 
like, and the hairs on the affected spot are usually erect. Excoriations 
produced by rubbing are easily seen. 
Course. Where extravasation has been slight, cutaneous swellings 
usually disperse rapidly. The blood serum and lymph poured into the 
insterstices of the cutis are reabsorbed ; the aggregated leucocytes le-entei 
