96 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



them from injury, but also keeps them in their proper 

 situation. To prevent friction, a synovial fluid fills 

 the space between the sheath and the tendon. When 

 the horse has been over -exerted or over -worked, 

 the tendon presses upon the delicate membrane with 

 which the sheath is lined, and induces inflammation. 

 Long-continued action will also sometimes rupture 

 some of the fibres with which the tendons are bound. 

 This is what has been termed a sprain of the back 

 sinew, and when this takes place to a greater extent, 

 the horse is said to have broken down. 



SYMPTOMS. It will be seen that during every 

 movement of the limb the animal evinces great pain, 

 in consequence of the excessive inflammation which 

 accompanies this injury, and also the considerable local 

 swelling and heat which accompany it. The horse 

 will also stand with his foot off the ground, barely 

 touching it with his toe. The first injury which is 

 above pointed out, consists merely of inflammation of 

 the sheath, or partial rupture of the fibres by which 

 it is attached. 



REMEDIES. This is an injury so serious to the 

 animal's future usefulness, as to necessitate his instant 

 removal from work, because however slight the strain, 

 if kept at work the animal will gradually " knuckle 

 over " on his fetlock joint and become useless. To 

 prevent constitutional irritation, administer a dose of 

 purgative medicine made as follows : 



Barbadoes aloes . from 4 to 8 drachms, 



Pulv. ginger 2 drachms, 



Pulv. gentian 2 drachms. 



After this the limb should be well fomented with 

 water three or four times a day, each time for about 

 an hour ; and in the intervals let large poultices of 



