OF FARRIERY. 



157 



jjoint of it being immediately under the knee, 

 and then inserted into the heads of the sesa- 

 moid bones, puts this ligament so much upon 

 the stretch, that at every bound the Horse 

 takes, there is no wonder it becomes ruptured ; 

 especially taking into consideration the age 

 that Horses are brought on to the course 

 now-a-days, to what they formerly were, and 

 also the pace they go ; though the distance 

 may be short, the pace kills. 



It has been supposed by some, that this ac- 

 cident has arisen from a rupture in the flexor 

 tendon : though I have known after the opera- 

 tion of neurotomy having been performed, the 

 flexor tendon to be partially divided, and the 

 Horse go as if rupture of the suspensory liga- 



proceed to firing : for the manner of which, 

 See Plate. 



RUPTURE OF THE BACK SINEAV. 



This is an injury that does not frequently 

 occur to the Horse, though the former injury 

 is in many instances mistaken for this ; but 

 this is not the case, though the membrane 

 and the small vessels supplying them with 

 blood, frequently become ruptured, and occa- 

 sion great lameness, still the substance of the 

 sinew rarely is ruptured. In such a case I 

 should recommend the same treatment as in 

 the preceding, which will be always found 

 the best, and if necessity requires it, you must 

 have recourse to firing ; but here rest will be 



ments had taken place. The limb in these { a grand auxiliary, and that in a loose box, if 

 cases betrays the greatest weakness, and the possible; for the frequent excitements a Horse 



has in the field, he is apt to forget his lame- 

 ness for the time, and commences galloping 

 about, much to his detriment, and retarding 

 his cure. Slinging Horses has been recom- 

 mended in cases of this injury ; but the 

 great difficulty in keeping Horses suspended 

 is such, that I never saw any good arise 

 from it. 



fetlock is almost brought to the ground. 



A perfect cure is seldom obtained ; but I 

 have known cases where Horses have broken 

 down, and been able to race again, and be- 

 come valuable. I could relate several in- 

 stances of the sort; but as this work is not 

 intended to enumerate all the sick cases that 

 fall in our way, I shall abstain from that, and 

 proceed to the cure of breaking down. 



The first thing to be done is to bathe the 

 leg well in hot water, then send for the shoe- 

 ing smith, and direct him to put on a high 

 heeled shoe, in oi'der to relieve the parts. The 

 Horse, in consequence of the pain he endures, 

 will be anxious to eat ; give him cold bran 

 mashes, and the alterative ball, as prescribed 

 in " Strains in General." This being done, 

 apply the tar liniment, as before directed, well 

 bandaging the leg, from the knee to the fet- 

 lock joint, or a little below it. If, after this 

 application should be tried for about a fort- 



STRAIN OF THE FETLOCK JOINT. 



This arises from injury done to the liga- 

 mentous' and tendinous connexion of these 

 parts, either from long-continued exertion, or 

 from the effects of more momentary, but vio- 

 lent eflforts ; such as in leaping, alighting on- 

 unequal, or stony ground ; by which means 

 the leg may be turned aside, similar to sprain 

 of the ancle of the human subject. Another 

 cause is, that some Horses, let them be going 

 whatever pace they may, occasionally have a 

 pecuHar drop behind. This will occasion the 

 night, and is found not to succeed, you must injury, and principally arises from debihty, or 



2 R 



