240 SHOULDER LAMENESS, 



history of the case submitted for treatment : its duration, and the 

 mode in which it occurred, when ascertainable, may very likely cast 

 some light upon our restorative plan of procedure. 



Repose of the lame limb is indispensable : without such a pre- 

 cautionary measure all remedies will have little chance of succeed- 

 ing. On this account a stall is preferable to a box for the lame 

 horse ; and he should be fastened up in it so that he cannot lie 

 down or move about much. Side-reins are more suitable than a 

 single strap or rope. 



Fomentation of the shoulder, in a recent case, we are of opinion 

 is preferable to the application of cold or refrigerant lotions ; but 

 then, we mean fomentation persisted in, and directed in particular 

 to the point of the shoulder. It being impossible to confine a hot 

 poultice on the part, an ample covering of spongio-piline will be 

 found an excellent substitute, seeing it may, by very simple con- 

 trivance, be made to closely cover the entire surface surrounding 

 the point of the shoulder. The piUne poultice should be replaced 

 by a fresh hot one every hour. 



A Dose of cathartic Medicine is commonly given in such a 

 case, and, we think, while the lameness is yet recent, with decided 

 good effect : only let the dose be strong enough to purge the animal 

 without there being a necessity for exercising him. 



Topical Blood-letting, so far as that can be carried into 

 effect by drawing blood from the plat vein, is advisable in most 

 cases — in severe ones indispensable. And the fittest time for its 

 performance is the day the patient is sick and purging from the 

 physic. From six to eight or ten pints of blood, according to the 

 severity and duration of the case, should be abstracted. 



Cold, in the form of refrigerant or evaporating lotions, or through 

 the application of ice, may, if preferred, be substituted for the fo- 

 mentations : for our own part, however, as we stated before, we 

 like the soothing and emollient plan the best. At the expiration 

 of a week of treatment of this mild and poultive character, the 

 horse may be seen out of his stable, first in a walk, then, for a few 

 yards, in a trot: caution being taken to put a stop to the trot the 

 moment any lameness re-appears; indeed, to exercise of any kind, 

 unless he should be found to go sound, in which case a walk out 



