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REPORTS OF CASES. 
REPORTS OF CASES, 
“ Careful observation makes a skillful practitioner, but his skill dies with him. By 
recording his observations he adds to the knowledge of his profession, and as¬ 
sists by his facts in building up the solid edifice of pathological science .”— Vet¬ 
erinary Record. 
American Veterinary College, Hospital Department. 
Cases by J. Hulme, D.V.S. and R. Morrison, D.V.S. 
FISTULA COLLI. 
A CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY OF SIMILAR LESIONS AND SUGGESTIONS AS TO 
THEIR CORRECT PROGNOSIS. 
Fistulous tracts situated in any portion of the body be¬ 
tween the head and the withers, are always serious in their 
nature, and rarely yield satisfactorily to treatment, and per¬ 
haps, of all this class of cases, none are more troublesome 
than those which occur on any part of the superior cervical 
region, on account probably of the difficulty of fixing upon a 
positive diagnosis as to their cause. The following case may 
prove of interest, and perhaps afford some useful data in the 
history of similar lesions. 
This patient, a government animal, was a good looking 
bay horse of six years. Some two months previously, a 
small swelling appeared on the off side of the neck, which 
was opened, and had been discharging ever since. Caustics 
of various kinds and under various forms, both liquid and 
solid, had been used, but without benefit, and he was sent to 
the hospital, where the wound was carefully examined. It 
was found to be about two inches long, situated about the 
middle of the right side of the neck, somewhat below the 
superior border, and connecting with a tract extending down¬ 
wards, backwards and inwards, which discharged a quite 
abundant suppuration, laudable in character, but perhaps a 
little thin. 
On account of the directions of the tract it was decided to 
make a counter opening, and for that purpose the S probe 
was introduced and found to pass with but little difficulty 
from the right to the left side of the neck. A seton was then 
introduced into the new-made tract, and both openings being 
