AS TO SOUNDNESS. 31 



himself, the horse went home all right, but next morning 

 he was lame — stiff on that shoulder. Here, no doubt, 

 was a sprain, followed by partial disuse of the parts, 

 and consequent atrophy. The horse was treated by 

 rest, hot fomentations, physic, counter irritation, etc., 

 and when brought home some weeks after, the shoulder, 

 much less than its fellow, showed symptoms of having 

 been well blistered; so that inflammatory action had 

 ceased. I recommended the owner to have the cold- 

 water hose turned on to the animal's shoulder for three 

 minutes night and morning, the part to be afterwards 

 rubbed till it was not only dry but hot, and the horse 

 to be allowed to run in a small paddock during the day. 

 In a few weeks he was quite well. 



Please to note the difference between these cases, 

 through enforced idleness of the muscles from the pain 

 of inflammation of a part of the shoulder, and those 

 which arise from exhaustion, and consequent innervation 

 of the whole muscle from prolonged exertion. In the 

 former case, we have a very curable condition, but not 

 so in the latter. Again, should the atrophy be due to 

 enforced rest of the muscles from disease in the shoulder- 

 joint, it is not likely to be overlooked by you ; inasmuch 

 as you have two distinct evidences of it, in the diminished 

 size of the parts, and the lameness, which is always pro- 

 nounced. The point of the shoulder should claim your 

 attention. Marks of setons, blistering, or firing, are not 

 unfrequently to be found. Should the horse be a valu- 

 able one, and he be at the same time sound, so far as 



