242 
BRUISES PRODUCED BY THE COLLAR. 
Excoriations of the skin must be carefully cleansed, and the surface 
powdered with iodoform conjoined with tannin or starch flour, or 
smeared with a neutral fat or ointment (ungt. vaselini). The latter 
should be applied when swelling attends the excoriation, and after 
applying the fat or ointment, either cold or Preisnitz’s poultices may be 
used. When such places have healed, the collar must be provided with 
a soft covering (hare skin) or a small piece of waxed cloth, in order to 
prevent injury. The active movements of the muscles of the skin 
sometimes prevent the healing of surface injuries. This occurs especially 
in summer, when flies abound. In such cases the application of blister¬ 
ing ointment in the neighbourhood of the affected spot is of excellent 
service. 
(2.) BRUISES PRODUCED BY THE COLLAR OR 
OTHER PORTIONS OE THE HARNESS. 
The horse collar consists of the housing, the two limbs, usually 
formed of iron, the padding, and the upper and lower open groove. 
The collar must lie parallel with the scapula without touching it, vdiich 
it is apt to do if too wide, producing excoriation of the skin over the 
scapular region. Most frequently the upper groove causes injury ; if 
too narrow it bruises, if too wide the skin is rubbed. As a rule, when 
the collar is in position, there should be sufficient room to allow of the 
hand passing between it and the withers. The collar, besides, must be 
wide enough to be easily pushed over the horse’s head, and, moreover, 
fit the shoulder, so that it is neither pushed towards the left nor right. 
Injuries caused by the collar are in all essentials similar to those 
caused by the saddle. Those in the neck region have the same signifi¬ 
cance as injuries to the withers, that is, they are only grave when the 
subcutis is injured. As long as the swelling is movable and remains 
sharply defined, the cutis alone has been damaged. In diffuse swellings 
pus formation easily extends to the lig. nuchee, producing cellular 
inflammation and necrosis, and burrowing of pus between the cervical 
vertebrae—a condition which offers great difficulty in treatment. This 
is particularly true of necrosis of the membraniform portion of the lig. 
nuchee. Such diseases are always obstinate, sometimes incurable, 
because cellulitis, set up between the muscles of the neck, leads to 
abscess formation, and renders it impossible to make counter openings 
for exit of pus. Extensive swelling and profuse pus formation are 
amongst the gravest symptoms. 
Treatment must be based on the same principles as are laid down 
for fistulous withers. The skin must not be divided transversely across 
the top of the neck, but the lateral surfaces need not be spared, and 
