SPECIES OF LAMENESS. 177 



&c. a strain, though it may arise from any other cause, as frequently happens. 

 viz. a blow given by the toe of the hind foot, in hunting over heavy lands, 

 when the fore foot is detained too long in the ground, coming in contact with 

 rolling stones in leaping, the kick of another horse, &c. 



STRAIN OF THE BACK SINEW AND LIGAMENTS. 



Cause. — Back sinew i:? the vulgar name for the tendon, which the reader 

 will find depicted in a section of the foot at page 166, and marked (k). It as- 

 cends behind the small pastern (t) and large pastern, up to the knee-bend of 

 (he fore leg, or the hock joint of the hind one, respectively. In plate 2, fig. 2. 

 at (a), this sinew is again shown, where it emerges out of the heel, and enters 

 its- sheath (6), to which it is attached in a certain degree, by means of very 

 fine nieinhrano, adhering from side to side, and capable of distention or re- 

 laxation. The sheath itself is attached to the two pasterns, of which it thus 

 becomes the tendon or support; whence the back sinew and its sheath, or 

 flexor, together obtain the plural — tendons. Within the sheath is secreted a 

 fluid, intended for lubricating and defending the parts during the very great 

 action to which they are liable in every eflfort of progression. As happens in 

 all other secretions, this one sometimes fails to produce enough for the intend- 

 ed purpose, when the sinew and its sheath adhere together, or at least do not 

 act with freedom; the consequence whereof is lameness in a greater or less 

 degree, which may be temporary only, or become permanent, according to ca*- 

 cumstances. If the dryness and adhesion be trivial, as happens after hard 

 work and a night's rest, the horse upon getting warm, loses the lameness this 

 deficiency has occasioned, for the secretion has been thereby renewed, and 

 the lubrication is now supplied in sufficient quantity ; but the horse falls lame 

 again next day, probably, and if he can not be allowed rest, 'tis 7 to 1 that he 

 becomes permanently lame. In this respect the French beat us hollow (as 

 just before remarked), though they do not profess humanity so sensitively as 

 the English ; and even the Arabs, though robbers by profession, by habit, and 

 inclination, are too sensible of what is due to a faithful animal in distress, tc 

 travel on lame horses. The same fact was before adverted to at page 170. 



Symptoms. — That sort of strain which consists of relaxation of the back 

 sinews shows itself by the horse going low upon his pasterns, in consequence 

 of his " carrying high," or being trotted constantly in harness. Occasional 

 lameness sometimes ensues in that fore foot which beats, or has the lead at 

 setting out — generally the off one; inflammation of the whole foot may be 

 felt by comparison with the heat of its fellow, which is aptly enough termed 

 " fever of the foot" by the old farriers. This is a very puzzling kind of lame- 

 ness, no other symptom than those presenting itself for us to ascertain the ex- 

 act cause ; and of course the less observant persons are very likely to apply the 

 wrong medicine, and render the horse a disservice instead of doing him good. 

 The lameness sometimes goes off without any treatment whatever but rest; 

 it is, however, more frequently accompanied, or followed, by some disease ot 

 the sole, in consequence of the secretion of horn in the foot being obstructed. 

 Sand-crack, thrush, corns, are among these evils, arising from supernatural 

 heat. 



Whenever it so happens, that the secretion does not restore to the enthe 

 tendons their original motion, it follows that some part adheres to another • 

 inflammation is the consequence, and the horse becomes worse and worse 

 every day he is put to work, the lameness never leaving him altogether. 

 When the adhesion begins extensively, the inflammation and sweiUng are 

 equally so; the pain is then very great, and the lameness complete and per- 

 manent. This denotes the disorder called " strain of the back sinews." lu 

 17* 



