SHOULDER- JOINT LAMENESS. 251 



ness, which is generally, but, of course, erroneously, called 

 shoulder-joint lameness by men incapable of distinguishing 

 between the two. 



Causes. — The causes of shoulder- joint lameness are 

 various. It may be caused by direct injury, as by an 

 animal running away, falling down, slipping, etc., and in 

 young horses a very common cause is turning and circling 

 them violently when breaking them to work. It is pro- 

 bably most common among cavalry horses, on account of 

 the various evolutions they are made to take, stopping sud- 

 denly, etc. 



Symjjfoms. — It is often a matter of considerable difficulty 

 to distinguish between shoulder-joint and foot lameness, 

 especially where the lameness is slight and not well-marked ; 

 but where this form of lameness is well-marked, it is 

 observed that there is difficulty in extending the limb. The 

 animal does not flex the knee to any great extent, and in 

 travelling the limb is kept as straight as possible, and is 

 brought forward with a rotatory motion, swinging it out- 

 ward instead of carrying it forward in a natural manner. 

 When the animal stands at rest, the foot of the affected 

 limb is held on a line with, or perhaps a little behind, that 

 of the sound limb, with the toe resting upon the ground 

 and the knee slightly flexed. In some cases, swelling, heat, 

 etc., may be detected in the region of the shoulder-joint. 

 On flexing and manipulating the shoulder-joint, pain will be 

 augmented and readily manifested by the patient. On 

 extending the limb, the animal will rear. The parts should 

 be both extended and flexed, and the animal trotted out 

 immediately afterwards, when usually it will be seen that 

 the lameness is increased. On the animal becoming warmed 

 the lameness decreases; but on allowing him to stand 

 all night after good warming exercise, he is found in the 

 morning to be wonderfully stiff and lame. The action is of 



