STRAINS.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[strains. 



whether the lameness arise from a ligamentous 

 strain of the shoulder, or from the muscles of 

 the chest ; for, at best, either blemish or 

 eschar will be produced. As a mild applica- 

 tion in the form of a blister, we recommend 

 the mild liquid blister in the article on Strains 

 in General. Apply as directed under the 

 head of that article, rubbing on the affected 

 part, morning and night, until tlie swelling 

 and inflammation will not allow this to be 

 continued longer. Be not alarmed at this, 

 but wait for two or three days, and the 

 swelling will subside, when the application 

 should be repeated, until the same effects 

 again prevent the application. In this way a 

 mild inflammation should be kept up for a 

 week or ten days, in accordance with the abate- 

 ment of the disease. It is very seldom neces- 

 sary to continue the application after the 

 second time, the disease generally yielding by 

 that time to its use. This will be found a 

 much more eligible mode of practice than the 

 common blister ointment. 



In addition to the above remedies, the 

 alterative medicine, as before directed, must 

 not be forgotten to be given, as it will not 

 only keep the system cool, but will promote 

 the absorption of any extravasated fluid that 

 may have taken place iu consequence of the 

 injury. 



There is one thing in strain of the shoulder, 

 which must in nowise be lost sight of; and 

 that is rest. We have already mentioned this 

 in the article on Strains in General; but it 

 cannot be too deeply impressed on the minds 

 of the keepers of horses ; for, though the lame- 

 ness may disappear on bringing the animal 

 first to work, iu nine cases out of ten, the 

 lameness will return on the least exertion. We 

 would, therefore, again recommend at least a 

 month or two in a loose box, or in a field 

 wliere he can be quiet, previous to using him, 

 though he may not appear lame. 



Horses sometimes, from other horses, receive 

 kicks, which aftect the shoulder, and occasion 

 considerable lameness, when there is no strain 

 whatever. When such is the case, bathe the 

 shoulder well with warm water ; after which, 

 wipe completely dry, and apply the tar lini- 

 ment, as directed before. Insert a rowel in 

 the chest, which will be preferable to bleeding 

 in the plate vein. 

 248 



STRAIN OR CLAP IN THE BACK SINEWS. 

 A strain, or clap in the back sinews, is not 

 thought so much of by some writers as it 

 really deserves ; but it rarely occurs, that a 

 horse when once strained in his back sinews, or 

 tendons, or their sheaths, ever becomes able to 

 perform much hard work. Still, we have known 

 both race-horses and hunters to be capable of 

 work after an accident of this kind ; but not 

 frequently so. However, as the disease is one 

 which often occurs, we must do our best to 

 alleviate the acuteness of the pain under which 

 the animal labours when visited by such an 

 affliction. ** 



Referring to the article on Strains in 

 General, it is there stated, that laceration of 

 some of the ligamentous fibres may occasion 

 the aflection ; still it is, however, more gen- 

 erally confined to a distension of those parts, 

 and of the sheaths of the tendons beyond their 

 structural capacity ; although there is little 

 reason to doubt that the tendons themselves 

 are also sometimes acted on. This disease 

 may occur to the hind legs, as well as to the 

 fore ones ; but we never saw it attack the hind 

 legs. It may, however, be brought on in the 

 fore legs by treading on anything suddenly ; 

 such as in downward leaps, in attempting to 

 recover a false step, or treading unevenly on 

 any hard or prominent substance. It is also 

 occasioned frequently by lowering the heels too 

 much, or too suddenly, by which the tendons 

 are brought too much into action. When the 

 injury has occurred, inflammation, with all its 

 attendants of heat, swelling, pain, and lame- 

 ness, and, in all probability, an incapability of 

 extending the limb, come on. The eft'usion 

 fi'om the ruptured vessels may be absorbed 

 with proper treatment ; but if coagulate lymph 

 is once formed, it will either be accomplished, 

 or, perhaps, not at all. More especially this will 

 be the case if the lymph should be thrown out 

 between the tendon and its sheath, where it is 

 not so readily absorbed, and where it may 

 form callosities around the back sinews, which 

 so frequently follow these accidents, and, by 

 their enlargement, obstruct the motion of the 

 limbs, which is felt in a great degree after ex- 

 ertion, and is shown in a particular manner at 

 first starting. Having become warm, however, 

 the lameness apparently leaves him ; and it is 



