570 LAMENESS FROM RELAXED 



Strains are of various degrees, and necefTary 

 to be diftinguifhed, whether acute and recent, 

 or chronic, and of long Handing ; and in cafes 

 of inferior concern, the fibres only are affeded, 

 and that perhaps barely by inflammation, as 

 when we fee the legs of a young horfe fwelled 

 and painful after work ; or the fibres may be 

 relaxed, or fome of them even ruptured, by a 

 fudden fl:rain ; the fame may happen to the 

 ligaments, or tyers of the joints ; and laftly, 

 when the force of the llrain is very great, and 

 in cafe of repeated and accumulated injuries 

 to the tendons themfelves, the animal fibre 

 mav gradually lofe a portion of its elafticityj 

 •which can then only be reftored as it was loft, 

 by gradual means ; a truth of the utmoft impor- 

 tance : when the injuries have been frequent, 

 the reftorative means too long negle6led, or the 

 fpring too much weakened, no perfeft rein^ 

 ftatement of it need ever be looked for. 



The proper means of reftoring the tone, or 

 fpring of relaxed animal threads, are by reft, 

 and abatement of the ftrefs upon them ; by 

 afluaging the inflammation, and promoting the 

 abforption of the concomitant flux of humour, 

 with poultices, partly emollient and partly re- 

 ftringent, and after the tenfion fliall have fub- 

 fided, by the application of bandage to the 

 loofened parts, and of thofe rough and auftere 

 fubftances which are known to poffefs the power 



of 



