OF FARRIERY. 



61 



Horses, where the fetlock (hair) almost 

 seems to touch the ground, and if the Horse 

 be overweighted, may be distinctly seen. 



Now the inelastic connexion these bones 

 have below to the head of the large pastern 

 bone, and tl>e decided elastic connexion they 

 have above to the suspensory ligament, clearly 

 shews how easy these bones may be partially, 

 if not altogether, dislocated ; and that, princi- 

 pally, on the irmer side, in consequence of the 

 superincumbent weight being thrown on the 

 inner side, when the other foot is in the air, 

 or of, perhaps, more plainly speaking, off the 

 ground. For we all know, what a simple 

 thing as treading suddenly on one side, will 

 displace the ancle joint of the human subject, 

 as a slip off a high ground suddenly to lower : 

 instance the sensation in going up a flight of 

 stairs in the dark, and, when at the top, to 

 imagine another step, the concussion is so 

 great, that fracture of the limb has been the 

 consequence. 



The action of the sesamoids is backwards 

 and downwards ; in doing which, the upper 

 end of its elastic attachment upwards, must, 

 of necessity, expand; and this expansion, 

 driven to excess, either by over weight, heavy 

 ground, or, when a Horse is at his top speed, 

 brings the non-elastic attachment below into 

 such violent action, that they become incapa- 

 able of contending with it ; and, consequently, 

 the hgamentous attachment is ruptured. 

 This is not an infrequent case; for, in racing 

 particularly,- as well as hunting, the Horse 

 makes a sudden drop, and many times it is 

 taken for, for what is termed, " breaking 

 down ; " but it is no such thing : it is the rup- 

 ture of a portion of the lower attachment of 

 the sesamoid bones, and that, principally, of 

 the inner side : consequently, the inner side of 



the fetlock joint will appear much larger than 

 the outer ; and if you pass your hand down 

 the leg, over the part, pressing gradually as 

 you move your hand down, you will immedi- 

 ately discover the partial dislocation, not only 

 from the projection of the upper end of the 

 bone, but from the heat and pain the Horse 

 will evince, on pressing that part of the bone, 

 which makes the most prominent appearance. 



I have known this accident occur, and the 

 inflammation run to that height, that the 

 whole of the leg, up to the knee, has been so 

 swollen, that the disease has been taken for 

 strain in the back sinews, when, in fact, it 

 arose from this partial dislocation of one of the 

 sesamoid bones. 



I have said more on this disease than 1 

 should have done, according to natural right, 

 but it not having been mentioned by any 

 writer before, to my knowledge, I claim the 

 discovery of it to myself, in which I feel justi- 

 fied, without arrogating too much. With 

 regard to the cure of this disease, it is at all 

 times of long duration ; not but the time may 

 be very much shortened, if persons discovered 

 the part affected at once. All liniments, or 

 blisterings, will never permanently remove it, 

 though they may reheve for a time ; but 

 when the Horse is brought into use again, 

 he becomes lame : therefore, you must have 

 recourse to firing at once, and not in a 

 partial manner, but go a little above the bifur- 

 cation of the suspensory ligament ; say about 

 an inch, and as far as half way done the large 

 pastern bone. Fire all round the leg com- 

 pletely, then lay it on lightly, 



Canthai'ides 

 Hoir's Lard 



4 drams. 

 2 oz. 



Take the necessary precaution to prevent the 

 Q 



