DISEASES OF THE BONES. 87 



If there is pasture to be had, let the horse be turned upon 

 it. During cold weather or chilly rains he should be stabled, 

 and fed on moist, relaxing diet. On no account let there be 

 any thought of working him until he is quite well. 



FORMER MODES OP TREATMENT. 



These were all barbarous expedients to produce counter- 

 irritation, the great desideratum in the treatment of swinney. 

 One method was to stab the diseased parts a number of times 

 with a large pegging-awl until they were full of little holes 

 half an inch deep. Another was known as puffing. A quill 

 was inserted into a small incision through the skin, and air 

 blown in. This was pressed along through the cellular tisr 

 sues with the hand, the skin being torn loose in the process, 

 until the entire surface of the shoulder was puffed out like 

 a full-blown bladder. A third practice consisted' in burning 

 the parts in a multitude of ways — with a hot iron, with 

 scalding steam, with a hot mush of ashes, and the like. By 

 these means the flesh was often literally cooked, and in 

 time sloughed off ih a mass. 



BIG SHOULJDER. 



As already stated, this is nothing more than an aggravated 

 case of swinney. The flesh and tendons of the breast are 

 affected, as well as those of the shoulder, and shrink away. 

 The diseased growth of bone at the shoulder-joint continues 

 to grow larger, and causes correspondingly-increased disfig- 

 urement and helplessness. 



TREATMENT. 



This, of course, must be the same as for swinney. But a 

 perfect cure is out of the question. True, the anim^'s suf- 

 ferings may be relieved, and the disease, in a great measure, 

 subdued; yet, in the majority of instances, it will be found 

 that his usefulness has been entirely destroyed. %.^v. ^* 



When the horse is in health, and in posses^n of his 

 natural power, the position of the feet is about fear inches 



■J 



