634 TH£ DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



part has become cool, it may bo reduced in size, liy causing absorption to be 

 set up ; wliicli is Ijcst cfTected by the application of mercury and iodine 

 (botli of wliich possess that power), in sucli a shape as to cause a blister of 

 tlie skin. The biiiiodide of mercury has this double advantage, and there 

 is no application known to surgery which will act equally well in effecting 

 the absorption of a curb. It should be applied in the mode recommended 

 at page 509, and again rubbed on at an interval of about a week, for three 

 or four times in succession, when it will generally be found that the 

 absorption of the unnatural swelHng is effected ; but the ligaments remain 

 as weak as before, and nothing but exercise (not too severe, or it will 

 inllame them again) will strengthen them sufficiently to prevent a return. 

 Friction with the hand, aided by a slightly stimulating oil (such as neats- 

 foot and turpentine mixed, or neatsfoot and oil of origanum, or, in fact, 

 any stimulating essential oil), will tend to sti-engthen the ligaments, by 

 exciting their vessels to throw out additional fibres ; and in course of time 

 a curb may be considered to be sufficiently restored to render it tolerably 

 safe to use the horse again in the same way which originally produced it. 



In many instances firing is necessary, and if the blemish of a few lines 

 drawn across the seat of curb is not an insuperable objection on the part of 

 the owner, it will prove more lastingly successful than any other treatment. 

 As a surgical blemish it is less to be objected to than any other, as it was 

 formerly the custom with some breeders, especially in Ireland, to fire colts on 

 this part as a preventive measure. 



DISLOCATION 



By dislocation is meant the forcible removal of the end of a bone from 

 the articulating surface which it naturall}' occupies. In the horse, from the 

 strength of his ligaments, the accident is not common; those that do occur 

 being chietly in the hip joint, and in that between the patella and the end 

 of the femur. 



Dislocation of the hip joint is known by the rigidity of the hind-leg, 

 which cannot be moved in any direction, and is carried by the horse 

 when he is compelled to attempt to alter his position. There is a flatness 

 of the haunch below the hip, but the crest of the ilium is still there, and 

 by this the accident may be diagnosed from fracture of that part. No treat- 

 ment is of the slightest avail, as the part cannot be reduced, and the 

 horse is useless except for stud purposes. The accident is not very common. 



DISLOCATION OF THE PATELLA 



This is a not uncommon accident of colthood on hilly ground or where 

 drop jumps are taken sideways while at play with others. The symptoms 

 are lameness, deformity, tucking up of the flank, and loss of flesh. There is 

 a partial dislocation also wliich is due to weak ligaments becoming elongated. 

 With some adult horses this form becomes habitual, occurring repeatedly. 

 The external vastus muscle contracting spasmodically draws the patella 

 outwards; with relaxation of the muscle the patella goes into its place again 

 with a click that can bo heard at several paces distant. 



