574 LAMENESS FROM RELAXED 



its neceflkry du6iility, muft ever be more liable 

 to over-flrain than to rupture. 



How often do we fee an old broken-down 

 racer, after having finifhed his courfe, limping 

 towards the flables, with his fetlock joints nearly 

 in contaft with the ground ; and yet, by the 

 help of bandage and aftringents, within twenty- 

 four hours, as ftreight and ere6l upon his legs, 

 as if he were become perfeftly found ? Again, 

 how common is it in the ftud, for a foal to be 

 dropped in fo weak a ftate, that its fetlocks 

 are bent to the earth, neverthelefs, in four or 

 five days, the parts fliall gradually contraft, 

 and the animal become upright. Can there be 

 a clearer proof of the dutlility and elafticity of 

 the animal fibre, and that the phyfical and me- 

 dical terms relaxation 2indi bracing are perfe6Hy 

 correft and legitimate ? 



In the cure of ftrains, Mr. Blaine has adopted 

 my favourite praftice of difperfmg the inflam- 

 mation, and reducing the tenfion, previoufly to 

 the exhibition of ftrong aftringents. However, 

 there are eminent men, at this day, of a con- 

 trary opinion, and who, in cafes of external in- 

 flammation, immediately apply the mod power- 

 ful repellents. Such praftice, no doubt, occa- 

 fionally fucceeds, but I have witneffed violent 

 and dangerous effe6ls therefrom, and, viewed 

 in a general light, it is no doubt erroneous. 

 Mr. Blaine, fyllematically inconfifl;ent, fays, 

 page 644, " farriers have confidered thefe parts 



. as 



