154 Journal of Agriculture. [9 March, 1908. 



Greyhounds are prone to dislocations of the small bones of the knee 

 and feet. The injury is sustained while turning suddenly in " wrench- 

 ing '" the hare or when racing on hard uneven or stony ground. The 

 dislocation is very easily set right but it is apt to recur, as indeed are all 

 dislocations, because of the fact that the binding ligaments of the joint 

 are generally sprained and, as explained elsewhere (page 262) ligaments 

 so affected become elongated and are therefore less capable of maintaining 

 the bones in proper position. 



SPRAINS. 



Some confusion exists as to the terms " sprain " and "strain." They 

 are often used synonymously but the difference will be understood when 

 it is explained that a strain is the act of stretching or over-exertion by 

 which a sprain is produced. The one is the cause, the other the effect. 

 A sprain may be defined as an injury of a muscle, tendon, ligam^ent, or 

 other stretchable structure resulting from excessive straining, pulling or 

 twisting whereby its fibres become over-stretched, disarranged or ruptured. 



The sprains of defined character to which the horse is liable have been 

 givn detailed attention in the Chapter on Lameness (see pages 219, 259 

 to 264, 369, and 468, 469), and their treatment has also been indicated 

 at the same place (pages 220, 259, 264, 370, 468, 469). 



WOUNDS. 



Wounds vary in gravity according to (a) their size and situation (b) 

 the tissue wounded and (c) their shape and the manner of their infliction. 



Large wounds are not necessarily the worst, indeed a small punctured 

 wound is often, it may almost be said always, a source of greater trouble 

 than a large open wound, but other things being equal the larger the wound 

 the more serious it is and the greater the length of time which will be 

 occupied in its repair and treatment. Wounds in the vicinity of joints 

 are usually serious not only on account of the danger of extension into the 

 joint but also because the motion of the joint hinders repair ; in fact the 

 greater the movement to which the surfaces of the wound are subjected 

 the greater are the difficulties of successful treatment. 



Flesh wounds are infinitely less serious than those in which tendons, 

 ligaments, bones or large blood vessels are involved, and, within limits, 

 the richer the blood supply of a part the quicker will healing proceed. 



Varieties of Wounds. 



According to shape and manner of infliction, wounds are classified into 

 three kinds — incised wounds, punctured wounds, and lacerated wounds. 



Incised wounds are those made with a clean-cutting agent such as a 

 knife, glass, sharp stones or iron and the like. Their depth may vary 

 but the opening is usually larger than the cavity. Beyond the general 

 treatment given below, the special treatment required for this class of 

 wound is that severed surfaces should be brought together evenly and 

 maintained in that position. According to the part affected this may be 

 done by stitches or sutures (page 71, Vol. V.) or bv the use of plasters 

 or by the application of pressure by means of bandages. In wounds on 

 the limbs the use of bandages, even after stitching, is often beneficial, as 

 by their aid better apposition of the wound surfaces is maintained and the 

 strain on the stitches is lessened. 



Punctured wounds are those " produced bv the penetration of a 

 sharp or blunt pointed instrument usuallv to a depth disproportionate 

 to the aperture of entrance" (Williams). Thev are much more serious 

 than incised wounds for the main reason that any discharge is likely to be 

 imprisoned, and, germs having been introduced at the time of infliction 



