79 



Others, again, passed a seaton through the heel, to tha^ 

 hollow of the frog, taking care not to touch the sensible 

 sole. 



STRAIN OF THE SHOULDER. 



Symptoms. — Decided by swelling upon the chest, or 

 at the top of the shoulder; but we think it desirable ta 

 ascertain whether any and what accident has taken place 

 betbre this symptom becomes apparent. Lameness 

 immediately succeeding any rude accident, such as a 

 kick, or being thrown down, or slipping on pavement^ 

 ice, &c., or treading on a loose stone, may cause a 

 strain of ih i muscles of the shoulder. This may be 

 distinguished from a strain lower down, by the animal's 

 drawing his toe along the ground ; but when he throws 

 out the foot in a semicircle, it shows that the hurt is 

 chiefly confined to the lower part of the i^houlder near 

 the elbow. Taking up the foot and bending the limb 

 will further prove the existence of strain in the shoulder, 

 if the animal evince pain ; whereas, if it lie in the 

 foot, and not in the shoulder, the lame leg can be 

 moved as supple as the sound one. Other methods 

 are also resorted to by some ; hold up his head high, 

 and after comparing and finding no diflerence in the 

 shape of his two shoulders, let go the head, when he 

 will be observed to flinch upon bringing it towards the 

 affected side. Let a person rattle some corn in a sieve 

 at a distance behind, now on this side, now on that, 

 and he will be observed to evince pain at turning the 

 neck so as to strain the aflected side ; not so if the 

 pain be in the foot, of course. As the horse will step 

 short, and also throw out his leg somewhat in a semi- 

 circle, when he has received a prick in shoeing, this 

 latter sign is not to be taken as finally indicative of 

 '* strain in the shoulder" until the foot has been exa- 

 mined, and the blacksmith questioned as to his skill 

 and carefulness. 



Cure. — If the injury be considerable, as when he 

 has been thrown down, he should be bled at once, in 

 the plate vein when it is local, but in the neck when 

 the injury has been more general. A laxative ball, 

 or a purgative, must follow as a matter of course, 

 proportioned to the actual state of his body at the timo. 

 G 



