SPRAINS OF THE LOINS. 367 



iiosis is necessarily a grave one and the disease is more liable to grow 

 worse than better. 



Treatment. — No form of treatment can be advised ; and the suffer- 

 ing of a helpless and useless animal can only be terminated by that 

 which ends all. 



Cases occur, however, where this condition of the blood vessels 

 exists in a much less degree, and the diseased condition is not suf- 

 ficiently pronounced for final condemnation. There may even be 

 a possibility of the absorption of the clot, or that an increase of the 

 collateral circulation may be sufficient to supply the parts with blood. 

 In such cases spontaneous recovery may follow moderate exercise 

 in the pasture, field, or stable, or continuous light work may be 

 given, but too much hope should not be placed in such treatment. 



SPRAINS OF THE LOINS. 



This is an affection which suggests to the mind the idea of mus- 

 cular injury, and is difficult to distinguish from many similar cases. 

 If the animal shrinks from the slightest pressure or pinching of the 

 spine in the region of the loins, he is by many pronounced to be 

 " lame in the loins," or " sprained in the loins," or " weak in the 

 kidneys." This is a grave error, as in fact this simple and gentle 

 yielding to such a pressure is not a pathological sign, but is normal 

 and significant of health. Yet there are several conditions to which 

 the definition of " sprains of the loins " may apply which are not 

 strictly normal. 



Cause. — The muscles of the back and those of the loins proper, as 

 the psoas, may have been injured, or again there may be trouble of a 

 rheumatic nature, perhaps suggestive of lumbago. Diseases of the 

 bones of the vertebral column, or even those of the organs of circula- 

 tion, may give rise to an exhibition of similar symptoms. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms are characteristic of a loss of rigidity 

 or firmness of the vertebral column, both when the animal is at rest 

 and in action. In the former condition, or when at rest, there is an 

 arched condition of the back and a constrained posture in standing, 

 with the hind legs separated. In the latter there is a lateral, balan- 

 cing movement at the loins, principally noticeable while the animal is 

 in the act of trotting — a peculiar motion, sometimes referred to as a 

 " crick in the back," or what the French call a tour de bateau. If, 

 while in action, the animal is suddenly made to halt, the act is accom- 

 panied with much pain, the back suddenly arching or bending later- 

 ally, and perhaps the hind legs thrown under the body, as if unable 

 to perform their functions in stopping, and sometimes it is only 

 accomplished at the cost of a sudden and severe fall. This manifes- 

 tation is also exhibited when the animal is called upon to back, when 

 a repetition of the same symptoms will also occur. 



