SPRAIN OF THE FLEXOR TENl)t)NS. 347 



though this again depends much on the exercises — or the paces at 

 such exercises — to which the regiment they belong happens to be 

 put. Harness-horses experience sprains in their hind legs, in their 

 fetlock-joints in particular, they being the parts more exerted in 

 draft. It is possible that thin-heeled shoes, by letting the heels 

 down suddenly, may have some such effect; though I cannot say 

 I have witnessed it. 



But sprain may be produced in another way. The muscles to 

 which the tendons belong may be called into such forcible or sud- 

 den action as to occasion it. Going at a tearing pace through 

 deep ground is very likely, through excessive muscular action, 

 to sprain the tendons. Setting his foot accidentally in a rabbit- 

 hole, a horse instinctively makes a sudden effort to disengage 

 himself, and in that act is not unlikely to sprain his sinews. 

 Should the foot happen to be set awry, or to slip on one side, a 

 joint is more likely to be sprained than a tendon. 



The Symptoms of Sprain of the Back Sinews are in 

 general unmistakeable ; though this will depend on the severity of 

 disease with which, or period of time at which, the horse may 

 come to be examined. Severe sprains will develop themselves 

 early ; sometimes as soon as done : slight sprains, on the other 

 hand, may require several hours, and even days, to do so. This 

 is another example, among many existing similar ones, to shew 

 the imprudence of hasty opinions in cases of lameness. The 

 horse, we will say, is lame : lameness being the usual accompani- 

 ment of sprain. The hand is passed down the lame leg ; and 

 swelling and heat is felt, and the horse flinches as our thumb and 

 finger grasp the swollen part. The swelling may consist only in 

 a small, soft, puffy tumour or " knot," as grooms call it ; or it 

 may be diffuse and extensive. The pain will be much greater in 

 some cases than in others. The horse frequently stands with his 

 lame foot flexed, reposing upon the toe to ease his sinews; and now 

 and then will, in trotting, " drop" considerably upon the sound 

 limb : in other (slighter) cases, the lameness will be but trifling. 

 In very severe sprains the local inflammation and pain, on occa- 

 sions, are so intense, that the system even sympathises with the 

 suffering limb, and symptomatic fever is the consequence. 



