WHERE SEATED. SHOULDER, HOW AFFECTED. !<)£ 



•ame time affect all the component parts of the foot. Thin hoof and sole are 

 most liable to this injury. 



Symptoms. — Sudden lameness, that is always increasing, and has scarcely 

 an intermission, without any appearance to account for it on the limb; and 

 the persons who permit the horse to incur this disorder by their carelessness 

 seldom have the candour to acknowledge that they know the cause to ho a 

 tread, a rolling stone, or a stumble, and the doctor is left to "find it out." 

 ii,.most every one imagines the lameness to reside higher up, as in the shoul- 

 der or the hip joint. Great heat and tenderness of the part soon come on ; 

 the latter symptom may be ascertained by striking the hoof in front with a 

 key or small stone, when the animal will flinch considerably more than when 

 the corresponding foot is struck in the same manner. When the horse wouW 

 stand at ease, he usually does so with his toe pointing forwards, so as to keep 

 the pastern in a straight line with the leg, and thereby take off the tension or 

 pressure upon the back sinew and ligaments : the inflammation shortly after 

 reaches the upper part of the sinew, as may be ascertained by passing the hand 

 down over it when the patient flinches. 



Cure. — Blistering at the coronet and fetlock repeatedly will reduce the in- 

 flammation within. A poultice covering the whole foot also tends to the same 

 effect, which will be further assisted by paring the sole, if it be not already too 

 thin : reduce the frog also, and do the same for the corresponding foot. 



Formerly they pared the toe tolerably close, and bled it there, by making a 

 longitudinal incision : the usual application of tar, &c. then completed the 

 cure. But this is an operation that is seldom performed with sufficient exact- 

 ness, the incision being too often made unwisely deep, so that other diseases 

 were thus generated at some future day. Others, again, passed a seton through 

 the heel to the hollow of the frog, taking care not to touch the sensible sole. 

 A third set apply the actual cautery, which comes least recommended of either 

 of the remedies just described; especially when we consider that the actual 

 disease is very often mistaken for some other ; a remark that implies how much 

 caution should be used in first ascertaining the exact seat of the lameness, its 

 cause and symptoms, ere we set about the cure by such violent means. 



STRAIN OF THE SHOULDER. 



Horses that are weak before, and low footed, with an unsteady tread, are 

 most liable to contract this disorder, which consists in a twist or sprain of the 

 strong muscles that attach the shoulder to the body. 1 think the horse is very 

 liable to incur this disaster, in a petty degree, whenever his progression is ac- 

 celerated to the utmost of his powers ; but we must guard ourselves against 

 placing entire reliance upon the hastily-delivered opinions of empirics, who 

 boldly pronounce when they hope to deceive, and expect belief from the cre- 

 dulous. 



Cause. — Much the same as those which occasion concussions, blows, and 

 numbness of the foot, with their consequences, which we consent to call 

 "strain of the coflSn-joint," without the most distant possibiHty of knowing 

 whether this misfortune ever has happened. When the horse is subjected to 

 any rude accident, as a kick, or being thrown down, or slipping on pavement, 

 ice, &c., or treading on a loose stone, he is very likely to incur strain of the 

 muscles of the shoulder. See conformation of the shoulder, in chanter 1 n. 



10. . F , p. 



Symptoms.— Bedded by swelling upon the chest, oi at the top of the shou- 

 der ; but we think it desirable to ascertain whether the accident has taken 

 place before this symptom becomes apparent. Lameness immediately suc- 

 ceeding any or either of those accidents, which may be distinguished from a 



