OF FARRIERY. 



1,)0 



and hunters to be capable of vvoik, after an 

 accident oi' the above kind ; but this i.s not 

 frequent However, as the disease is one 

 which we are frequently called in to, we must 

 do our best to alleviate the poor animal who 

 may be suffering under the acute pain of such 

 an affection. 



On reference to the article of " Strains in 

 General," I there stated, that laceration of 

 some of the ligamentous fibres may occasion 

 the affection; still it is, however, more gene- 

 rally confined to a distension of these parts, 

 and of the sheaths of the tendons beyond their 

 structural capacity ; although there is little 

 reason to doubt, but that the tendons them- 

 selves are also sometimes thus acted on. This 

 disease may occur to the hind legs, as well as 

 to the fore ones ; but I must confess I never 

 saw it attack the hind legs ; but it may be 

 brought on in the fore legs by treading on any 

 thing suddenly ; such as downward leaps, in 

 attempting to recover a false step, treading 

 unevenly on any hard or prominent substance. 

 This is also occasioned frequently by lower- 

 ing the heels too much, or too suddenly, by 

 which the tendons are brought more into 

 action than Nature intended them. The in- 

 jury in consequence brings on inflammation, 

 with all its attendants of heat, swelling, pain, 

 and lameness, and in all probability an inca- 

 pability of extending the limb. The effusion 

 from the ruptured vessels may be absorbed 

 with prop.ir treatment ; but if coagulate lymph 

 be once formed, it will be with difficulty, or 

 perhaps not at all, and more especially if the 

 lymph should be thrown out between the 

 tendon and its sheath ; this being not so readily 

 absorbed, forming callosities around the back 

 sinews, which so frequently follow these acci- 

 dents, and by their enlargement obstruct the 



motion of the limb, which is felt in a grea' 

 degree after exertion, and is shewn ni a par 

 ticular manner at first starting; but having 

 become warm, which I should say arises as 

 much fi-om pain as exertion, the lameness 

 apparently leaves him, and it is then said b> 

 persons who have to drive such a Horse, 

 " Oh! it icill go off as he becomes warm;" 

 not at all reflecting on the sufferings of the 

 poor animal. The cause of this is friction ; 

 for, as the deposits of lymph are from the 

 rupture of the small vessels lining the sheath 

 they become turgid and full. Now, the action 

 of exercise, occasioning friction, friction pro- 

 ducing warmth, stimulates the absorbents to 

 take up the fluid from the mouths of the rup- 

 tured vessels, and consequently, for a time, or 

 when the Horse is in action, the swellino- and 

 lameness, either partially or wholly, disap- 

 pears. Thus, you perceive the advantage of 

 hand-rubbing and the flannel bandage. 



or the treatment of strain in the back 

 sinews, we must refer our readers to the 

 treatment of spiains in general, though with 

 this addition, on the first discovery of the 

 accident, have the shoes taken oft', and the 

 heels turned up about half an inch; this will 

 greatly relieve the pain the animal is labour- 

 ing under. Bleed in the plate vein ; next 

 bathe the leg in warm water, and use the 

 " tar liniment," as before directed If symp- 

 tomatic fever should come on, use the altera- 

 tive medicine, and a cooling diet, as bran 

 mashes, a few carrots, now and then; corn 

 you need not be so plentiful with. 



Should the repetition of the liquid blister 

 not be successful, you must have recourse to 

 firing ; and, with care, this operation may be 

 performed not only with neatness, but as 

 scarcely to be seen. I have, in severe casctj 



