WOUNDS. 255 



some cases to use the knife to make a dependent opening to 

 allow the pus, etc., to discharge freely. 



Caput Muscles. ^Atrophy of the caput muscles some- 

 times occurs as a result of injury by falling, slipping, etc. 

 When a sprain of these muscles has just taken place, it is 

 often a matter of great difficulty to state positively whether 

 it is a muscular injury or fracture of the bone. Where it is 

 suspected that injury has occurred in connection with the 

 insertion of the muscle, and the animal cannot bear weight 

 upon the limb, it is good practice to place him in slings and 

 use fomentations freely to allay irritation. If atrophy fol- 

 lows, the waste may be so great as to be readily perceptible, 

 and the animal has more or less difficulty in progressing. 



Treatment. — The treatment consists of counter-irritation, 

 as liniments, vesicants, etc. 



INJURIES, Etc., IN THE REGION OF THE ELBOW. 

 ELBOW-JOINT LAMENESS. 



Elbow-joint lameness occasionally occurs, and is caused 

 in various ways, as by inflammation of the joint, injuries, 

 rheumatism, rupture or sprain of muscles or ligaments, etc. 



This lameness is manifested in many cases by symp- 

 toms which, to say the least, are extremely puzzling. 

 In severe cases, when the animal is standing quietly, he 

 flexes the limb. He also sometimes extends the foot, but 

 as a rule the foot is not extended. The lameness is usually 

 well marked, and pretty severe. When the animal walks 

 it is upon the toe, and with a peculiar doubling action, 

 or knuckling of the fetlock-joint. On examining the region 

 of the elbow, heat, pain, and swelling may be detected, 

 and on manipulation of the parts, and flexion of the joint, 

 the pain and lameness are increased. The elbow descends 

 to a level below that of its fellow, and, if the ligaments are 

 sprained or ruptured, it is turned out to a certain extent. 



