EUPTUEE.] 



THE HORSE, A.ND 



[coffin joint. 



to young horses, either in breaking or train- 

 ing, and more particularly so to the race-horse 

 than to any other. The severe training the 

 race-horse has to undergo at the present day, 

 makes him exceedingly liable to rupture the 

 suspensory ligament ; as the fixed point of it 

 being immediately under the knee, and then 

 inserted into the heads of the sesamoid bones, 

 puts this ligament so much upon the stretch, 

 that at every bound the horse takes, there is 

 no wonder it becomes ruptured ; especially 

 when we take into consideration the age at 

 which horses are brought to the course now-a- 

 days, to what they formerly were, and also the 

 pace at which they go. Though the distance 

 may be short, it is tlie pace that kills. 



It has been supposed by some, that this 

 accident has arisen from a rupture in the 

 flexor tendon ; and we have known, after the 

 operation of neurotomy, the flexor tendon to 

 be partially divided, and the horse go as if 

 rupture of the suspensory ligaments had taken 

 place. The limb, in such a case, betrays the 

 greatest- weakness, and the fetlock is almost 

 brought to the ground. 



A perfect cure is seldom obtained ; but there 

 have been cases where horses have broken 

 down, and been able to race again, and become 

 valuable. AVe could relate several instances 

 of the sort ; but we will rather proceed to the 

 cure of breaking-down. 



The first thing to be done is to bathe the 

 lesf well in hot water : then send for the shoe- 

 ing smith, and direct him to put on a high- 

 heeled shoe, in order to relieve the parts. The 

 horse, in consequence of the pain he endui-es, 

 will be anxious to eat. Therefore give him 

 cold bran mashes, and the alterative ball, as 

 prescribed in " Strains in General." This 

 being done, apply the tar liniment, as before 

 directed, well bandaging the leg, from the 

 knee to the fetlock joint, or a little below it. 

 If, after the trial of this application for about 

 a fortnight, it does not succeed, proceed to 

 firing ; for the mode of performing which, see 

 Plate. 



RUPTURE OF THE BACK SINEW. 



This is an injury that does not frequently 

 occur, though the former injury is in many in- 

 stances mistaken for it ; but they are not the 

 same cases. Though the membranes and the 

 250 



small vessels supplying them with blood, fre- 

 quently become ruptured, and occasion great 

 lameness, still the substance of the sinew rarely 

 is ruptured. In such a case we should recom- 

 mend the same treatment as in the preceding, 

 which will be always found the best; and if 

 necessity requires it, recourse to firing must be 

 had. Here rest will be a grand auxiliary, and 

 in a loose box, if possible ; for, from the fre- 

 quent excitements which a horse has in the 

 field, he is apt to forget his lameness for the 

 time, and commence galloping about, much to 

 his detriment, and to the retardmjBut of his 

 cure. Slinging has been recommended in cases 

 of this injury ; but the great difficulty in keep- 

 ing horses suspended is such, that we never 

 saw any good arise from it. 



STRAIN OF THE FETLOCK JOINT. 

 This arises from injury done, to the liga- 

 mentous and tendinous connexion of these 

 parts, either from long-continued exertion, or 

 from the eff"ects of more momentary, but vio- 

 lent efforts ; such as are made in leaping, 

 or alighting on unequal or stony ground ; by 

 which means the leg may be turned aside, 

 similar to sprain of the ankle of the human 

 subject. Another cause is, that some horses, 

 let them be going at whatever pace they may, 

 occasionally have a peculiar drop behind. This 

 principally arises from debility, or from the 

 animal having travelled too far, and exhaustion 

 taken place. Though this at first seems but 

 trifiing, it occasions great pain to the horse. 

 Here the tar liniment will be found of great 

 benefit, seldom failing to remove the lameness 

 in a few days. In all these cases, the warm- 

 water bath and the flannel bandage should be 

 used. 



STRAIN IN THE COFFIN JOINT. 



Strain in the coffin, as it is termed by far- 

 riers and grooms, is not so common a case as is 

 generally thought to exist ; for its being con- 

 fined partially to the hoof, prevents its being 

 subject to those strains to which other joints 

 are liable. 



When a horse becomes lame, an attentive 

 examination of the feet and coronet should not 

 escape the attentive observer; but if heat is 

 found about the coronet, this is not to be taken 

 for the disease. 



