246 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINATlY MEDICINE. 



notice of the owner, and the patient may be somewhat stiff, 

 or even lame, for a few days ; sometimes a slight stiffness 

 may exist for three or four days, after which it disappears, 

 and atrophy takes place. There is also an unnatural bulg- 

 ing of the shoulder, as before mentioned. This bulging is 

 well marked, and easily seen. In some cases atrophy occurs 

 to such a degree that one might think the muscles had com- 

 pletely disappeared, the antea and postea spinatus fossae 

 being plainly brought into view, and apparently being 

 covered only with the common integument. The muscles 

 most severely involved are the antea spinatus, postea 

 spinatus, and teres externus in the order named, and some- 

 times the flexor brachii. 



Treatment. — Occasionally the muscles are affected at 

 their insertions or tendinous portions ; such cases are 

 always difficult, and often impossible, to cure. But in a 

 large majority of cases the injury occurs in connec- 

 tion with the belly or fleshy portion of the muscle, and 

 usually admits of cure. In a case where an animal has 

 received an injury affecting some of the muscles of the 

 shoulder, there may be slight swelling, pain, stiffness, etc. 

 At this stage the patient should be allowed to rest, and hot 

 or cold applications, according to the season, should be 

 freely used for an hour or two at each application. After 

 the inflammatory action has subsided, a good stimulating 

 liniment, as the ordinary camj^horated liniment, may be 

 used. When atrophy occurs, place the patient in a loose- 

 box and give complete rest during treatment. A mild, 

 stimulating liniment may now be freely and frequently 

 used ; or, what is still better, a vesicant may be applied to 

 the parts, and repeated as often as may seem necessary. 

 Friction with the hand is also of use. Setons are of great 

 value in the treatment of shoulder-slip, and two or three 

 are generally required, and at least one should be inserted 



