270 THE FORE LEGS. 



lining the sheath, and inflammation is produced. A different fluid is then 

 thrown out, which coagulates, and adhesions are formed between the tendon and the 

 sheath, and the motion of the limb is more difficult and painful. At other times, from 

 violent or long-continued exertion, some of the fibres which confine the tendons are 

 ruptured. A slight injury of this nature is called a sprain of the back-sinews or ten- 

 dons ; and, when it is more serious^ the horse is said to have broken down. It should 

 bo remembered, however, that the tendon can never be sprained, because it is inelastic 

 and incapable of extension ; and the tendon, or its sheath, are scarcely ever ruptured, 

 even in what is called breaking down. The first injury is confined to inflammation 

 of the sheath, or rupture of a few of the attaching fibres. This inflammation, how- 

 ever, is often very great, the pain intense, and the lameness excessive. The anguish 

 expressed at every bending of the limb, and the local swelling and heat, will clearly 

 indicate the seat of injury. 



In every seriouo affection of this kind, care should be taken that the local inflam- 

 mation does not produce general disturbance of the system ; and, therefore, the horse 

 should be bled and physicked. The bleeding may be at the toe, by which an import- 

 ant local, as well as general, effect will be produced. The vessels of the heart will 

 be relieved, while fever will be prevented. Let not the bleeding be performed in the 

 farrier's usual way of first paring down the sole, and then taking out a piece of it 

 at the toe of the frog ; in which case a wound is made often difficult to heal, and 

 through which fungous granulations from the sensible parts beneath will obstinately 

 spring : but, after the sole has been well thinned, let a groove be cut with the rounded 

 head of a small drawing-knife, at the junction of the sole and the crust (see z, in the 

 next cut, p. 272). The large vein at the toe will thus be opened, or the groove may 

 be widened backward until it is found. When the blood begins to appear, the vein 

 may be more freely opened by a small lancet thrust horizontally under the sole, and 

 almost any quantity of blood may be easily procured. The immersion of the foot in 

 warm water will cause the blood to flow more rapidly. A sufficient quantity having 

 been withdrawn, a bit of tow should be placed in the groove, and a patten shoe tacked 

 on, by which the heels may be raised from the ground, and much tension removed 

 from the sinews The bleeding will, thus, be immediately stopped, and the wound 

 will readily heal. 



As a local application, no hot farrier's oil should come near the part, but the leg 

 should be well fomented with warm water two or three times in the day, and half an 

 hour at each time. Between the fomentations, the leg should be enclosed in a poul- 

 tice of linseed-meal. Any herb that pleases the owner may be added to the fomenta- 

 tion, or vinegar or Gculard's extract to the poultice ; for the beneficial effect of both 

 depends simply on the warmth of the water and the moisture of the poultice. All 

 stimulating applications will infallibly aggravate the mischief. 



The horse beginning to put his foot better to the ground, and to bear pressure on 

 the part, and the heat having disappeared, the object to be accomplished is changed. 

 Recurrence of the inflammation must be prevented, the enlargement must be got rid 

 of, and the parts must be strengthened. The two latter purposes cannot be better 

 effected than by using an elastic bandage one of thin flannel will be the best. This 

 will sustain and support the limb, while by few means are the absorbents sooner 

 induced to take up the effused coagulable matter of which the swelling is composed, 

 than by moderate pressure. If the bandage is kept wet with vinegar to each pint 

 of which a quarter of a pint of spirit of wine has been added the skin will be 

 slightly stimulated and contracted, and the cold produced by the constant evapora- 

 tion will tend to subdue the remaining and deep-seated inflammation. This band- 

 age should be daily tightened in proportion as the parts are capable of bearing 

 increased pressure, and the treatment should be persisted in for a fortnight. It, at 

 the expiration of that period, there is no swelling, tenderness, or heat, the horse may 

 gradually, and very cautiously, be put to his usual work. 



Should there, however, remain the slightest lameness or considerable enlargement, 

 the leg must be blistered, and, indeed, it would seldom be bad practice to blistei 

 after every case of severe sprain, for the inflammation may lie deep in the sheath of 

 the tendons, and the part once sprained may long remain weak, and subject to 

 renewed injury, not only from unusual, but even ordinary exertion. If a blister is 

 resorted to, time sliDuld be given for it to produce its gradual and full effect, and 

 the horsft should be afterwards tun d out for one or two months. We must her* 



