DISEASES OF FARM ANIMALS 257 



added to the solution to make the disinfectant area 

 conspicuous. 



From the fact that the disease is more prevalent 

 during wet seasons, it is always best to guard 

 against allowing the animals to graze upon swampy- 

 land or to drink from ponds of stagnant water. 

 The spread of the disease has been traced along 

 creeks from one farm to another, which would 

 suggest avoiding these places also. The draining 

 of the low, swampy lands is especially recom- 

 mended. 



SWEENY. — Wasting of the muscles covering 

 the shoulder blade of the horse is commonly called 

 " sweeny," and the cause may be any strain, 

 sprain, jerk, or bruise of the parts due to a bad 

 fitting collar, or to awkward steps of a colt plowing 

 for the first time, and especially when worked in 

 the furrow. The great nerves of the shoulder are 

 affected, and in consequence nutrition is impaired 

 and the muscles waste away. A similar condition 

 may affect the muscles of the hip, or of the space 

 between the stifle and hip. 



Lameness seldom is a prominent feature in 

 shoulder sweeny. Ordinarily the wasting comes 

 on some time after the causative injury; then the 

 skin alone appears to cover the bone (scapula) and 

 the animal may have little power for work. In this 

 connection it should be remembered that wasting 

 of the shoulder muscles also may be due to any 

 chronic lameness or soreness of the foot, or leg, 

 between foot and shoulder. Wasting (atrophy) 

 of muscles occurs when the muscles for any reason 

 are not fully exercised. It, therefore, is important 

 to make sure whether the cause is in the foot or 

 in the shoulder before commencing treatment. 



