112 CAUSES, SVMPTOatS ANt> tRfiAtMENT OF 



ointment and matter continues, it is good practice to cut it right open 

 with the knife, and then treat as a wound, or you may insert a seaton 

 through it and attend to the constitutional treatment. If in good con- 

 dition give a dose of purgative medicine, if in poor condition a generous 

 diet. If you have some difficulty in determining whether pus exists or 

 not, get the history of the case. Notice whether the hair is falling off 

 or not, and you may feel the fluctuating of the pus ; or you may use an 

 exploring needle, or make an incision and insert a seaton needle, and if 

 pus is there, then enlarge the opening, foment, poultice, etc. They 

 sometimes take on an indolent character, and if it does not assume the 

 character of a fibrous tumour use stimulants, blisters, seatons, etc. If 

 you find this upon the anterio-internal part of the joint in a horse three 

 or four years old, that has not been doing much work, is unthrifty, the 

 appetite impaired, constitutional irritation, pulse quick, some difficulty 

 in extending the limb, etc., it is generally the result of irregular strangles. 

 The local treatment is the same, but the constitutional treatment is dif- 

 ferent ; do not give a purgative if it comes from strangles. You may 

 find tumours of a vascular or malignant character, which are more diffi- 

 cult to remove, but the only chance sometimes is to remove them, but 

 there is apt to be considerable hemorrhage. The ecraseur is the best 

 instrument for such cases, and it may take a pretty powerful instrument ; 

 there is no great damage generally in dissecting these out. The top of 

 the neck is sometimes injured from the action of the collar ; it is easily 

 treated if the exciting cause is removed. Clip off the hair, use tepid 

 water and mild astringents. But sometimes they become very trouble- 

 some, a small abscess forms and bursts, heals, forms again, etc., and 

 there is a great tendency for the matter to extend downwards. If you 

 examine you will notice a hole extending down the side of the liga- 

 mentum nuchae, which you must cut out ; caustic may do, but it is 

 tedious. After cutting, bathe, poultice, etc. It is good practice to tie 

 the head up for some time — keep it well elevated. 



Shoulder Joint. — The bones of this joint are held together by 

 muscles, and not ligaments — the only ligament being the capsular. 

 Injuries to this joint are very rare in the horse. Dislocation of this has 

 been noticed but very rarely, indeed, but the joint may be diseased in 

 various ways. Inflammation may set up affecting the joint and cartil- 

 ages, and, if allowed to run on, anchylosis may take place. It may be 

 due to a sprain or constitutional disturbance — a kind of rheumatic 

 inflammation. This may come in the bicipital groove. I think the 

 principal seat of shoulder- joint lameness is in connection with the flexor 

 brachii muscle, which passes over the bicipital groove, in connection with 

 stratiform and articular cartilage. It is generally suddenly produced, 

 and readily gives way to treatment, but you may have all the changes 

 found in other joints —inflammation of the synovial membrane, cartilages, 

 etc., — giving rise to porcelaneous deposits. Animals were at one time 

 blistered for shoulder lameness, where they were confirmed cripples from 

 navicular disease. It is not very difficult to tell shoulder lameness from 

 foot lameness, by one familar with the parts. It must be distinguished 

 by the action, from certain parts being affected. Shoulder lameness may 

 be produced by the animal running away, falling violently, or rough 

 handling in breaking in. Cavalry and artillery horses are subject to it, 

 or it may be caused by the horse being cast in the stall, or going through 

 deep snow, or by direct injury from a stroke upon the parts. There is 

 some difficulty in locating it, if slight, but not if severe. 



Symptoms. — There is difficulty in extending the limb, but not what 

 you would call great difficulty. It is brought forward in a kind of rotary 



