DISEASES OF MUSCLE, TENDON, xVND LIGAMENT 523 



support. This may be given in a variety of ways, but there is probably 

 none better than a preliminary wrapping with tow (to avoid making the 

 skin sore), and then a series of starch or glued bandages which are i^etained 

 in their proper place if the heel is filled up with tow or wool and they are 

 put on from the hoof upwards. With three legs to rest the weight upon 

 the patient generally learns to get up and down without injury to the 

 affected limb. If he does not do so, slings may be tried, but they always 

 need a watchful eye to see that they do not cause sores or get too slack 

 when the horse has learned to depend on them. Patients in slings for 

 whatever cause varj- very much in behaviour; with some they are the means 

 of saving life and with others of practically no use. 



CHAPTER XXVI 



INJURY AND DISEASES OP THE JOINTS, MUSCLES, AND TENDONS 



DISEASES OF MUSCLE, TENDON, AND LIGAMENT — INFLAMED TENDINOUS SHEATHS— IN- 

 FLAMED BURSiE MUCOSA — STRAINS — THOSE OP THE BACK AND LOINS — OF THE 

 SHOULDER — OF THE KNEE— OF THE FETLOCK — OF THE COFFIN JOINT — OF THE SUS- 

 PENSORY LIGAMENTS — OF THE BACK SINEWS — BREAKING DOWN — STRAINS OF THE HIP 

 JOINT, STIFLE, AND HOCK — CURB — DISLOCATION — WOUNDS OF JOINTS, 



DISEASES OF MUSCLE, TENDON, AND 

 LIGAMENT 



Muscle is subject to simple atrophy, with or without fatty degeneration 

 The disease shows itself by a wasting away of the part, accompanied by a 

 flabby feel to the touch. It is often difficult to account for the sudden 

 wasting of a part that has not been thrown out of use by lameness or 

 other recognized cause. The theory most generally accepted at the present 

 day is some injury to the nutrient nerves of the part. 



In agricultural districts it is by no means rare for colts, which are put to 

 plough at two or three years, to manifest a sudden atrophy of the shoulder 

 muscles, particularly those on the blade-bone (antea and postea spinatus), 

 but in such a case it can easily be imagined that the position of one foot 

 on the ridge and the other in the furi'ow may result in some injury to the 

 immature tissues of the animal. Recovery is however the rule, and it is 

 generally supposed that friction with some stimulating liniment assists to 

 restore the muscles, whether by rousing the nerves to greater action or 

 merely by bringing increased nutrition to the part by a greater blood supply 

 is not clear, probably both. 



Acute inflamjiation op the synovial membrane is seldom met with ; 

 but a chronic state, inducing an excessive secretion of synovia, is extremely 

 common. The most usual situation is at the hock, where the swelling has 



