84 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



SWINNEY, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE SHOULDER. 



It would puzzle the very wisest in- horse lore to determine 

 where the popular name of this disease originated, or why it 

 was first used. It is utterly unknown to European writers, 

 and has received scarcely any attention from American au- 

 thors. A more proper designation would be inflammation 

 of* the shoulder, as will become apparent from a fuller de- 

 scription. Swinney, or sweeny — commonly so called — is of 

 frequent occurrence in all parts of the United States, but 

 prevails more especially in the South-west, and perhaps most 

 of all in the Valley of the Mississippi. 



Its cause may undoubtedly be traced to a very severe 

 strain upon the top of the shoulder, sometimes even tearing 

 loose the strong tendons which connect the scapula, or shoul- 

 der-blade, with the back. In this case, the whole frame- 

 work of the shoulder gives way, the scapula slips down some 

 inches, and the top of the shoulder assumes a sharp and hol- 

 low appearance. This is known as slip-shoulder. When in 

 health, the horse readily recovers from the effects of an or- 

 dinary strain, with no further care than a little rest ; but if 

 there is much tendency to fever in his system, such an acci- 

 dent is very likely to produce swinney. 



The immediate seat of the disease appears to be the peri- 

 osteum, or membranous sheath investing the scapula. If the 

 skin was affected, it would be visible to the eye. Minute ex- 

 amination, or at least dissection, would detect disease in the 

 bones, if any existed, and an abscess or tumor would speed- 

 ily reveal where the trouble lay, if it were in the muscular 

 portion of the shoulder. There is no doubt, however, that 

 the cartilages and tendons passing over and beneath the 

 scapula are involved, in greater or less degree, as they often 

 suffer great decay. 



There are two distinct stages of this disease, a fact which 

 the horseman should fix in his mind by carefully studying 

 each of them. The first stage is characterized by inflamma- 

 tion and lameness, and is sometimes very difiicult to distin- 



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