FISTULOUS WITHERS, ETC. 
881 
at the college clinic, the enlargement of the withers was fluctu¬ 
ating and tender. This was incised and found to resemble a 
large lymph abscess, containing a large amount of coagulated 
lymph and purulent material. Tubes of bouillon and agar in¬ 
oculated from this remained sterile. Tubes of bouillon and 
agar were inoculated from the pus after the abscess had been 
opened and suppurated freely. A streptococcus and a white 
micrococcus were isolated from these cultures. 
Case VI .—Clinic No. 2430, April 24, 1900. Patient was a 
small bay mare, weight 900 lbs., 9 years old, and used for farm 
and road work. The trouble had existed for about four months. 
Owner claimed the case had never been operated upon, but 
there were three suspicious looking scars to contradict his state¬ 
ment. When first seen at the clinic the wound was discharging 
through an external opening at the centre of the external scap¬ 
ular region on the right side. Upon examination, after confin¬ 
ing the animal upon the table, the fistulous tract was found to 
lead up over the cartilage of prolongation, then back three or 
four inches, also downward and forward on the median surface 
of the cartilage. There was a small sinus on the external sur¬ 
face of the cartilage, and also a cavity with a distinct sac, ante¬ 
rior to the scapula. All of these tracts were laid freely open to 
insure proper drainage. Tubes of bouillon and agar weie in¬ 
oculated from the discharge and from the wound after opera¬ 
tion, and from these were isolated a streptococcus, a white mi¬ 
crococcus and a yellow micrococcus. 
Case VII .—Clinic No. 2501, May 12, 1900. Patient, a black 
horse, weight 1000 lbs., 10 years old 5 had been running out all 
winter and when taken up about three weeks ago the enlarge¬ 
ment on the withers was discovered. A blister was applied by 
the owner, but no opening made. When presented at the 
clinic there was a swelling on the right side of the withers 
about the size of a man’s fist. Upon incising the swelling 
numerous fistulas extending; in different directions were found 
and laid open to insure drainage. 
Tubes of bouillon and agar were inoculated from the pus, 
which remained sterile. A streptococcus and a white micro¬ 
coccus were isolated from the pus after the wound had been 
opened some time. 
Another affection closely allied to fistulous withers, although 
in our experience not so common, is that popularly known as 
poll-evil. From what we have learned of these two diseases 
