220 Common Diseases of the Horse 



both fore limbs the action is short and pattering. It is very rare 

 for both hind limbs to be affected except in fever of the feet. 



The seat of lameness. — This may be obvious, but if not, the 

 action of the lame limb must be carefully noted. If the slightest 

 doubt exists as to the cause, the shoe should always be removed 

 and the foot examined. 



If a negative result is obtained, the remainder of the limb must 

 be examined carefully, each part in order, all the way up — in the 

 fore limb, pastern, fetlock, tendons, knee, &c., until perhaps one has 

 to fix on the elbow or shoulder by negative diagnosis, i.e. through 

 finding no cause elsewhere. In the hind limb a similar method 

 is adopted, and a final decision is made that the hip is affected. 



Treatment. — With one or two exceptions, such as lymphangitis 

 (known as " shake ", " weed ", " Monday morning disease ") and 

 fever in the feet, rest is essential. It is also necessary to subdue 

 the inflammation, and for this purpose hot- or cold-water fomen- 

 tations are generally used. It is necessary to add that, when the 

 former are used, the water should be kept hot and not allowed 

 to become lukewarm, as it then loses its beneficial effect. The 

 fomentations should be applied for at least one hour at a time, 

 and practised night and morning. 



Between these intervals, if the position allows, bandages may 

 be applied with or without cotton-wool packing, kept moist with 

 arnica, or lead and opium lotion, and other similar lotions. 



After the inflammation has subsided and partial recovery made, 

 a little strengthening liniment may be rubbed in until soundness 

 is obtained. If the case is protracted, more severe measures are 

 necessary, such as blistering, setoning, or firing. When the lame- 

 ness is due to disease of the bones, red blister (biniodide of mer- 

 cury) should be used ; when due to disease of the muscles and other 

 soft structures, black blister (cantharides) is the more useful. Seton- 

 ing is performed in persistent muscular lameness, particularly of 

 the shoulder, and firing after severe strains of the tendons and 

 joints. It is also used to permanently strengthen a weak joint. 



III. PARASITES 



Although there are a great many parasites affecting the horse, 

 only the most important can be dealt with in these pages. They 

 may be external or internal. The external parasites are the various 

 blood-sucking flies, which are very troublesome in hot weather; 

 lice, which cause much irritation; and mites, which produce the 

 manges. Internal parasites are chiefly round worms, the grubs 



