956 HIP LAMENESS. 



Course and prognosis. In forecasting the termination of a case 

 valuable indications are afforded by the character of the onset and 

 course. Sometimes the disease appears suddenly, sometimes slowly ; 

 sometimes it disappears in a short time, sometimes continues for 

 months : sometimes it appears altogether incurable. These variations 

 are always important in determining diagnosis and prognosis ; indeed, 

 the prognosis often depends entirely on the course. The following 

 principles are in general true : — 



(1) Sudden lameness points to mechanical injury, and usually 

 takes a more favourable course than that which develops slowly 

 hut progressively. 



(2) When improvement has once set in, complete recovery becomes 

 probable in direct proportion to the rapidity with which the Lameness 

 has diminished. The gradual increase of lameness indicates patho- 

 logical changes, probably of an obstinate character. 



(3) The older the lameness, and the more marked the anatomical 

 changes (muscular atrophy), the graver the prognosis. 



(4) Intermittcncy or remittency in the lameness is also an 

 unfavourable feature, particularly if the horse has been rested and 

 properly treated. 



(5) The work to be performed must also be considered : thus 

 riding and heavy draught horses offer less probability of permanent 

 recovery than those in light work. 



(6) Disease of the joint is far less hopeful than muscular disease. 



Treatment. In recent hip lameness, accompanied by inflam- 

 matory symptoms, rest and cold applications, continuous cold-water 

 irrigation, or ice poultices are indicated. If the symptoms suggest 

 rheumatic disease — that is, if lameness decrease with movement, if 

 the course be intermittent, and if the disease appear without apparent 

 cause — warm moist packs are better, and may be followed by in- 

 friction with mild irritants, like oil of turpentine, spirit of camphor, 

 or ammonia liniment. The animal should be rested, and placed in 

 a warm stall. In muscular disease, massage, in the form of rubbing, 

 is valuable ; but where paralysis is surmised, striking or beating the 

 muscular tissue is better, and seems to check degenerative processes. 



If no marked improvement occurs in eight to fourteen days, a 

 blister of cantharides, bichloride or biniodide of mercury (1 — 8) 

 may be applied. It is best to mark out with chalk, or by clipping 

 the hair, the position in which the ointment is to be applied to the 

 hip-joint, otherwise stablemen always apply it over the external 

 angle of the ilium. 



Should this treatment also fail, setons, subcutaneous injections of 



