SPEAIN OF THE FLEXOli TENDONS OR BACK SINEWS. 373 



there has been what is commonly, but iniproperly, called a sprain of the 

 back tendons. 



These tendons are enclosed in a sheath of dense cellular substance, in 

 order to confine them in their situation, and to defend them from injury. 

 Between the tendon and the sheath there is a fluid to prevent friction ; 

 but when the horse has been over- worked, or put to sudden and violent 

 exertion, the tendon presses upon the delicate membrane lining the sheath, 

 and inflammation is produced. A difierent fluid is then thi'own out, 

 which coagulates, and adhesions are formed between the tendon and the 

 sheath, and the motion of the limb is more difficult and painful. At other 

 times, from \dolent or long-continued exertion, some of the fibres which, 

 confine the tendons are ruptured. A slight injury of this nature is called 

 a sprain of the back sinews or tendons ; and, when it is more serious, the 

 horse is said to have broken down. The first injury is confined to inflam- 

 mation of the sheath, or rupture of a few of the attaching fibres. Tliis 

 inflammation, however, is often very great, the pain intense, and the lame- 

 ness excessive. The anguish expressed at every bending of the limb, and 

 the local swelling and heat, mil clearly indicate the seat of injuiy. 



In every serious afi'ection of this kind, care should be taken that the 

 local inflammation does not produce general distui'bance of the system ; 

 and therefore the horse should be bled and physicked. The bleeding may 

 be at the toe, by wliich an important local, as well as general, effect will 

 be produced. The vessels of the heart -will be relieved, wliile fever will 

 be prevented. Let not the bleeding be performed in the farrier's usual 

 way of first paring down the sole, and then taking out a piece of it at the 

 toe of the frog ; in wliich. case a wound is made often difiicult to heal, and 

 tlu'ough. which fungous granulations from the sensible parts beneath will 

 obstinately spring : but, after the sole has been well thinned, let a groove 

 be cut vdth the rounded head of a small drawing-knife, at the junction of 

 the sole and the crust. The large vein at the toe will thus be opened, or the 

 groove may be widened backward untd. it is found. When the blood begins 

 to appear, the vein may be more freely opened by a small lancet thrust hori- 

 zontally under the sole, and almost any quantity of blood may be easily 

 procured. The immersion of the foot in warm water will cause the blood 

 to flow more rapidly. A sufficient quantity having been Avithdi'awn, a bit 

 of tow should be placed in the groove, and a patten shoe tacked on, by 

 wliich the heels may be raised from the ground, and much, tension re- 

 moved from the sinews. The bleeding will thus be immediately stopped, 

 and the wound will readily heal. A full dose of physic should be given 

 as soon as the horse could be prepared ; and, after its operation, low and 

 moist diet should be persisted in till the inflammation and pain have 

 subsided. 



As a local application, no hot farrier's oil should come near the part, 

 but the leg should be well fomented with warm water two or three times 

 in the day, and an hour at each time. The beneficial efiect depends sim- 

 ply on the warmth of the water and the moistui^e. All stimulating 

 applications will infallibly aggravate the mischief. 



The horse beginning to put his foot better to the ground, and to bear 

 pressure on the part, and the heat having disappeared, the object to be 

 accompHshed is changed. Recurrence of the inflammation must be pre- 

 vented, the enlargement must be got rid of, and the parts must be 

 strengthened. The two latter purposes cannot be better effected than by 

 using a bandage : one of thin flannel used to be the best, but is now 

 entirely supeivseded by the linen ones. This will sustain and sup- 

 port the limb, while by few" means are the absorbents sooner induced to 

 take up the effused coagulable matter of which the swelling is composed 



