DISEASES OF CATTLE 437 



or a wet floor, playing, or fighting with another animal are the most 

 common. 



SPRAIN OP THE SHOULDER JOINT. 



This is likely to occur from any of the causes mentioned above 

 or from the animal slipping suddenly into a rut or hole. When 

 such an accident occurs, sudden lameness will attract attention. The 

 animal will be noticed to drag the leg when walking and to carry it 

 in a circular direction, outward and forward, at each step. The leg 

 should be carefully examined, pressure over the joint causing the 

 animal to evince pain. If the person making the examination is in 

 doubt, it is well to make a comparison between the shoulders by 

 pressing first on one and then the other. After such an accident the 

 animal should be tied up so as to limit so far as possible the use of the 

 injured joint. Soft food should be given with a view to keeping the 

 bowels acting freely. 



Treatment. During the first three days the treatment should 

 consist of cold-water irrigation to check the inflammation and re- 

 lieve the pain. Hot fomentations may then be applied to hasten the 

 absorption of the inflammatory fluids. When the pain has somewhat 

 abated, equal parts of mercurial ointment and green soap may be 

 rubbed into the swollen tissue. Should lameness continue after the 

 tenth day, good results will be obtained from the application of a 

 blister. This may be done by carefully clipping the hair off over a 

 joint, including a surface of 4 or 5 inches in circumference, and rub- 

 bing in the following preparation : 



Powdered cantharides dram . . 1 



Biniodide of mercury dram . . 1 



Vaseline ounce . . 1 



The animal's head should be carefully tied until the third day 

 to prevent its licking the blister. The blistered surface should then 

 be smeared with lard or vaseline every other day until the scabs fall 

 off. Gentle exercise should be allowed after the fourth or fifth day 

 from the application of the blister. If the lameness still remains the 

 blister may be repeated in three weeks or a month. 



SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK. 



This may occur from misstep when the animal is moving rap- 

 idly, and the twisting or wrenching of the foot is sufficient to rupture 

 partially the ligaments which bind the bones together at that part. 

 Such an accident also frequently occurs by the foot becoming fas- 

 tened in a hole in the floor, and the wrenching is the result of the 

 animal's attempt to liberate it. Lameness, followed by swelling of 

 the joint and pain when it is handled, or when the animal moves the 

 joint, and heat, are the more noticeable symptoms. If the sprain be 

 very severe the animal occasionally does not bear its weight on the 

 limb. 



Treatment. The most important consideration in the treatment 

 of this affection is rest, which is best enforced by keeping the animal 

 in the stall and placing strong muslin bandages about the inflamed 

 joint. As in the sprain of the shoulder, cold water in the form of 

 douches, continuous irrigation with hose or soaking tub, or finely 



