The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1903-08-29
Poll Evil and Fistula.

some diseases and will deal with them
Jointly, as they are much alike. Poll
evil Is the term commonly applied
to swelling forming back of the
ears, due to bruise on stable door or
roof or elsewhere, and finally forming
pus, which runs from openings con-
Meeting with ramifying pipes or sin
uses. Fistula OF the withers. often
termed "thistilo," is similar en-
largement and condition OF the with
ers, due to bruising from collar, roll
ing. blows, bites of other horses. etc
The first principle of successful treat
ment is to see that pus has free out
let from the first. Ii it is allowed
to remain In the abscess and merely
leak out of a small opening, 1t bur
rows deeply and forms pipes watch
run In different directions, and so az
gravate the condition that it is later
very difficult to cure. In poll evil and
hstula the enlargement may, If taken
In time, sometimes be scattered by
repeated blistering. For this purpose
mix together two drachms each OF
powdered .cantnarides and biniodide OF
mercury In two ounces of lard; clip
hair from part; rub the blister In for
Is minutes; wash it OFF in three days.
then apply lard daily. 1t Is also well
to smear lard under the blistered part
30 that sound skin may not be in
jured. Repeat bllstering every two
weeks unless skin is too sore. This
blistering is also to be done in the
treatment Of assesses of the poll and
withers, which have been opened and
are seen to be healing nicely. II the
blister on the unopened abscess does
not scatter it 1t will have the effect
of bringing 1t ito a head" so that
when the enlargement becomes soft
1t may be freely opened for the evacu
alton of pus. The opening may be
fearlessly made in the abscess of the
withers, but in the poll evil the seat
Of the abscess Is dangerous one
and the knife must be carefully used
Merely open through the skin at the
softest place, then Introduce the
cleansed finger and with it break
down the tissues underlying the Skin
until all parts Of the abscess have
been explored and to provide free
drainage then cut the skin further
so as to make free opening. II the
I>skin alone be cut in this way i'm
portant arteries are not likely to b.
cut and dangerous bleeding will no
take place. The openings should b.
made as low as possible. SO that thu
pus may find free vent. and it Is usu
ally necessary to open on both side
of the neck or withers, as the pipe
run from one side to another. Hav
ing made the first openings, then lc
cate the end of each pipe and poke
and open at such ends, so that pu
may drain cut. This cutting don
in both cases, the next step Is to kse
the cavities free from pus, and W
have found that this is best done b.
free washing with a large quantity o
hot antisepUc solution. We prefer tw,
gallons of hot 2 per cent solution o
permanganate Of potash, introduces
by means of nozzle attached to
long, half.inch hose fitted onto til
spout let into the rim at bottom O
a large, clean pail, TO be hoisted higl
above horses back. Use this ono
daily to flush out the cavities, an
wien doae pack the cavities in fis
tula of the withers with oakum, to b
saturated in mixture Of equal part
of turpentne and raw linseed oil, an
in poll evil syringe out cavities wit
a solution Of an ounce Of chloride G
zinc, two ounces of sulpnate of gin
and drachm of hydrochloric acid 1
a pint Of water. Smear lard unde
the openings to prevent skin fror
being excoriated, and each day prob
openings with finger to make sur
that no new pockets have formed, an
If such are found, open them freel
as before. 1t will require from tw
to six months to care a bad case G
flstula OF either location, but til
above plan will be found effective, 70
1t has been praaiced for many years
In starting 10 treat chronic, ba
case q fistula Of either trouble, W
also advocate the internal use c
iodide of potash in drachm dose
twice daily, except for pregnant mare!
as ii is Akely to caxss abortion.
is useless to be constantly changin
the treatment and doing what ever
neighbor advises. Stick to one pla
and follow it out patiently until tn
cure is obtained, and this necessitate
cleanliness such az we have sul
gested--Farnsrs Review.