STRAINS OF THE KNEES. 295 



a permanent deformity. Horses with sprung knees are unsafe 

 for saddle purposes, owing to their consequent liability to 

 stumble. 



Respecting the treatment, it may be said that six out of 

 every ten sprung-kneed horses will be found to have corns. 

 If these be of recent growth, there is a fair prospect of 

 straightening the limbs by removing the corns as directed 

 under the head of that disease ; by the removal of these the 

 heels are brought to the ground, and the limb becomes straight. 

 Under any other circumstances all treatment proves useless. 



BEEAKING DOW2Q-. 

 This accident occurs in running, jumping, racing, etc. It 

 is sometimes called a strain of the back sinews, and lets the 

 animal down upon the fetlock, in consequence of a rupture of 

 the ligament of the pastern. Horses meeting with this acci- 

 dent are of little value ever after, as they always remain weak 

 in the fetlock. Unless the animal is quite young and valuable, 

 the treatment would cost more than the animal's value. The 

 French treat these cases vei*y successfully by the application 

 of instruments which keep the limb in its proper position until 

 the parts have again healed and become strong. This is the 

 only course to be pursued with any possible chance of a suc- 

 cessful termination of the case. 



STRAINS OF THE KNEES. 



Strains of this joint occur in young horses while being 

 broken into harness more often, probably, than at any other 

 period of the aiiimal's life. This results from the tenderness 



