Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-01-26
WOUNDS OF HORSES
FistuIas May Exist in Any Part
Of the Animals Body.
FOLLOWBRUISES ANDWOUNDS
Among More Common Causes Are
Chatting by the Halter or Heavy
Bride, Blows From Whip and
Horse Striking Head.


prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
The word fstula is applied to any
ulcerous lesion upon the external sur
face of the body which is connected by
ducts, or passages, with some internal
cavity. Fistulas may exist in any part
Of the body, but the name has come to
be commonly accepted as applicable
only to such LESSONS when found upon
the withers. Poll evil is a fstula upon
the poll, and in no sense differs from
hstulOus withers except in location.
The description Of istula will apply,
then, in the main, to poll evil equally
well. QuittOr presents the character
istic tubular passages of a fstula and
may, therefore, be considered and
treated as fistula of the foot. Fistulous
passages may also be developed upon
the sides of the face, through which
saliva is discharged instead Of flow
ing into the mouth, and are called sail
vary hstulas. A dental fistula may
arise from the decay Of the root of u
tooth. Again, a hstula is sometimes
noted at the navel associated with
hernia, and istulas have been devel-
Oped in mares, following difficult partu-
rition. Fistulas may arise from wounds
of glandular organs or their ducts, and
thus we have the so-called mammary
or lacrimal hstulas.
Fistulous tracts are lined with a
false membrane and show no DISPOSE
ton to heal. They constantly afford
means Of exit to the pus discharged
by the unhealthy parts below. They
are particularly liable to develop ut
the withers or poll because of the ex-
posed positions which these parts oc-
cupy, and, having once become located
there, they usually assert a tendency
to further extension, because the YER
teal and Eliminated formation of the
muscles and tendons of these parts
allows the forces of gravitation to as
sist the pus in gaining the deeper-lying
structures and also favors its retention
among them.
Causes.
Fistulas follow as a result of alb
s~cesses, bruises, wounds, or long-con-
tinued irritation by the harness.
Among the more common cause of
fstula of the poll (poll evil) are
chatting by the halter or heavy bride |;
blows from the butt-end of the whip {;
the horse striking his head against the
hayrack, beams of the ceiling, low
doors, etc. Fistulous withers are seen
mostly in those horses that have thick
necks as well as those that are very
high in the withers or, among saddle
horses, those that are very low on the
withers, the saddle here riding forward
and bruising the parts. In either of
these locations ulcers of the skin, or
simple assesses, if not properly and
punctually treated, may become tistu-
las. They are often caused by bad
fitting collars or saddles, by direct in
juries from blows, and from the horse
rolling upon rough or sharp stones.
The pus burrows and finds lodgment
deep down between the muscles, and
escapes only when the sinus becomes
l s%urcharged or when, during motion Of
the parts. the matter is forced to the
surface.
Symptoms.
These, of course, will var accord
.ng to the progress made by the hstula.
Following an injury there may be sore
ness or stiffness of the front legs,
md upon careful examination of the
withers small tortuous lines running
/ from the point of irritation downward
and backward over the region OF the
shoulder may be seen. These are swOl-
= zen and painful TO the touch. In a day
= Or two "A swelling is noticed on one OF
both sides of the dorsal vertebrae
3 which is hot, painful, and rapidly en-
1 larging. The stiffness Of the limbs
may disappear at this time, and the
heat and soreness Of the parts may
= become less noticeable, but the swell
; ing remains and continues to enlarge
, A fstulous ulcer Of the poll may be
o arst indicated by the opposition which
n the animal offers TO the application OF
r stable brush or bride. At this time
the parts are so sore and sensitive that
there is some danger that unless han
died with the greatest care the patient
will acquire d~isagreeable stable habits
: The disease in It's early stages may D'
a recognized as a soft, fl%uctuating tn
j NOR surrounded by lnfammatory swell
d Ing, with the presence Of enlarged
. Emphatic vessels and stiffness of tn
neck. Later the Inflammation Of thu
: surrounding tissues may disappear
leaving a prominent tumor. The swell
q Ing, whether situated upon the head o.
g the withers, may open and form n run
/. ming ulcer, or its contents may dry VI
and leave a tumOr which gradually de
a velops the common characteristics o
a fbrous tumOr. When the enlarge
ment has opened, carefully examine it
cavity, as treatment will depend whol
ly upon it's condition.
j. Treatment.
4 In the earliest stage, when there /
soreness, enlarged lymphatics, but n
xya1 -uarkad swelling the trouble ma