SPRAIN OF THE FLEXOR TENDONS. 353 



In old Horses who have done much Work, such like- 

 wise is the case. Their fore legs are " round," and feel firm 

 and skin-bound ; they having been brought into such condition 

 either from experiencing sundry repetitions of sprain, or from 

 excessive or long-endured work : the inflammatory or increased 

 vascular action induced by which tends, in the course of time, to 

 the same consequences. These are what are called gummy or 

 bummed legs. Nor with such legs is it often that the fetlock 

 joints do not partake of this roundness and solidity and skin-tight- 

 ness; though the firm adhesion and close sitting of the skin is to 

 be viewed often, rather, as the effect of stimulating treatment — 

 blistering and firing — than of disease. All which remote and final 

 consequences of inflammation in such parts, when once established, 

 are entirely without the pale of ordinary remedy ; requiring, if 

 remediable at all, another and totally different class of therapeutic 

 measures. Therefore will 



The Treatment of Sprain consist of simple means, or com- 

 prise remedies of a higher class, according as the sprain is slight 

 or severe, recent or of long standing. In most diseases of the 

 muscles or their tendons, it is a primary consideration to put them, 

 as organs of motion, into a state of repose. This is effected in 

 two wavs: — by putting them into a condition of relaxation, by 

 bringing their points of attachment as near together as possible ; 

 and by absolute rest. In the present instance our object will be 

 attained by a thick-heeled shoe, or a shoe raised at the heels by 

 calkings, according to the requirements of the case. Trifling as 

 this may appear to some, it tends very much to the relief of the 

 animal whenever his leg is in pain, besides contributing to aid 

 other remedies in bringing about restoration. 



Fomentation of the leg, which is more effectual than the 

 warm bath, is by far the best topical remedy for a recent and 

 painful sprain. It soothes and softens pain, while it abates in- 

 flammation and .relaxes the parts it is seated in. One of the 

 best modes of using fomentation is through the medium of the 

 spongio-piline. Cut two pieces, each large enough to wrap 

 round the leg, and long enough to reach from the knee to the 

 fetlock, and fold either piece in succession round the affected part, 



VOL. IV. Z Z 



