244 LAMENESS. 



The acute inflammation is generally succeeded by a condi- 

 tion of atrophy, and for some time afterwards the animal will 

 show signs of weakness and inability ; but these wall pass away 

 as the muscles regain their power and tone. 



Treatment. — Eest in the slings; enemas, to act as internal 

 fomentations ; aperients, and febrifuges if fever be present. 

 In cases w^here the appetite is not much impaired, and but 

 little or no fever supervenes upon the injury, the administra- 

 tion of medicine should be wdthheld. Fomentations must be 

 applied to the loins and perinaeal region ; and after the first 

 few days, mild external stimulants, as weak ammonia liniment, 

 with good food and careful tending. It may be laid down as a 

 general principle that slings do harm when the animal is unable 

 to stand in them, and if both fetlocks knuckle forwards, and the 

 w^hole weight of the patient be thrown upon the abdomen, 

 slings should not be used ; but should he be able to stand 

 when the feet are implanted on the ground, the slings are 

 very useful. After some time has elapsed, and when the patient 

 appears not to make the desired progress towards recovery, a 

 good blister to the loins and quarters will be very beneficial, and 

 will hasten the development of muscular tissue. If the season 

 be favourable, a run at grass in some quiet place will complete 

 the cure. 



Muscles are liable to become deranged in their function either 

 by an exaltation or depression of their contractile power, and 

 these conditions are generally exhibited in the muscles of the 

 lumbar, gluteal, and femoral regions. 



The causes of these aberrations of function are often very 

 obscure, and seldom demonstrable. It has been already pointed 

 out that diseases of the spinal bones are present during life 

 without any very decided external manifestations; and from 

 this it may be inferred that such diseases as " stringhalt," 

 shivering, or that form of partial paralysis vulgarily termed 

 *'■ jinked-back," as well as that peculiarly obscure nervo-muscular 

 disease called by French veterinary wrriters " immobilite," and 

 by English horsemen " German horses," are all probably due to 

 some disease of the sensory track of the spinal cord, similar to 

 the " loco-motor ataxia " of the human patient, which is thus 

 described by Aitken in his Science and Practice of Medicine, 

 1866 : — " In the erect posture the muscles may sustain a heavy 



