supple:\ient. 4G.3 



live of great danger. The penetration of such 

 can very seldom take place without the pro- 

 . babihty of disagreeable or alarming conse- 

 quences ; if, iu the fore part of either leg, the 

 periosteum, ligamentary parts, or articula- 

 tion of the knee and footlock joints, may be 

 severely affected j if the back part of either, 

 the tendon, by being punctured or lacerated, 

 may receive irreparable injury. From these 

 various chances, it is not at all surprizing 

 that lameness, originating in causes so trifling 

 in their early appearance, should frequently 

 prove so truly distressing in the event ; for 

 it is well known but few of these accid-ents 

 occur without terminating in suppuration 

 and its tedious eftects : and there can be no 

 doubt but very many of those happen from 

 want of proper attention to circumstances, 

 immediately after discovery of the injury 

 sustained. 



Punctures from thorns, in general, are con- 

 j^idered merely as a temporar}^ or superficiai 

 inconvenience, upon supposition that the in- 

 tegument is alone afiected, without the least 

 reference to parts more immediately and ma- 

 terially concerned. From such miscon;:ep- 



VOL. T. n II : 



