DISEASES OF HORSES 255 



refuse to go, and if forced he shows weakness behind, seems ready to 

 fall, and perhaps does fall. While on his feet the leg is kept in con- 

 stant motion, up and down, and is kept from the ground as if the 

 contact was too painful to bear. If undisturbed this series of symp- 

 toms will gradually subside, sometimes very soon, and occasionally 

 after a few hours he will return to an apparently perfect condition. 

 A return to labor will lead to a renewal of the same incidents. 



Treatment. No form of treatment can be advised; and the 

 suffering of a helpless and useless animal can only be terminated by 

 that which ends all. Cases occur, however, where this condition of 

 the blood vessels exists in a much less degree, and the diseased con- 

 dition is not sufficiently pronounced for final condemnation. There 

 may even be a possibility of the absorption of the clot, or that an 

 increase of the collateral circulation may be sufficient to supply the 

 parts with blood. In such cases spontaneous recovery may follow 

 moderate exercise in the pasture, field, or stable, or continuous light 

 work may be given, but too much hope should not be placed in such 

 treatment. 



SPRAINS OP THE LOINS. 



This is an affection which suggests to the mind the idea of mus- 

 cular injury, and is difficult to distinguish from many similar cases. 

 If the animal shrinks from the slightest pressure or pinching of the 

 spine in the region of the loins, he is by many pronounced to be 

 lame in the loins, or sprained in the loins, or weak in the kidneys. 

 This is a grave error, as in fact this simple and gentle yielding to 

 such a pressure is not a pathological sign, but is normal and signifi- 

 cant of health. Yet there are several conditions to which the defini- 

 tion of sprains of the loins may apply which are not strictly normal. 



Cause. The muscles of tne back and those of the loins proper, 

 as the psoas, may have been injured, or again there may be trouble 

 of a rheumatic nature, perhaps suggestive of lumbago. Diseases of 

 the bones of the vertebral column, or even those of the organs of 

 circulation, may give rise to an exhibition of similar symptoms. 



Symptoms. The symptoms are characteristic of a loss of rigidity 

 or firmness of the vertebral column, both when the animal is at rest 

 and in action. In the former condition, or when at rest, there is an 

 arched condition of the back and a constrained posture in standing, 

 with the hind legs separated. In the latter there is a lateral, bal- 

 ancing movement at the loins, principally noticeable while the ani- 

 mal is in the act of trotting a peculiar motion, sometimes referred 

 to as a crick in the back. If, while in action, the animal is suddenly 

 made to halt, the act is accompanied with much pain, the back sud- 

 denly arching or bending laterally, and perhaps tne hind legs thrown 

 under the body, as if unable to perform their functions in stopping, 

 and sometimes it is only accomplished at the cost of a sudden and 

 severe fall. This manifestation is also exhibited when the animal is 

 called upon to back, when a repetition of the same symptoms will 

 also occur. 



If a slight pressure on the back or the loins is followed by a 

 moderate yielding of the animal, it is, as before remarked, a good 



