88 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK 



in front of a perpendicular dropped from the shoulder. The 

 sufferer from this disease, however, in consequence of thb 

 pitching forward of the shoulder, has his feet thrown back- 

 ward nearly twice that distance, greatly to his detriment in 

 moving, and with the loss of at Ifeast one-half his power. 



INFLAMMATION OR SWINNEY OP THE HIP. 



This is much more rarely encountered than the correspond- 

 ing disease in the shoulders, which it closely resembles in its 

 general symptoms, particularly as regards the withering of 

 the muscles, the attendant fever, and its accompaniment of 

 diseased feet. From its comparative unfrequency, however, 

 it is not as well understood. It has never been described, 

 except recently, by a few American writers. 



TREATMENT. 



The treatment must be the same as for swinney in the 

 shoulders, and seems much more efficacious. The corrosive 

 liniment seldom fails to effect a perfect cure. 



# 



SLIPPED OR BROKEN HIP. 



It would appear as if nature had made ample provision for 

 the protection of the hip-joint. The connection of the three 

 bones of the haunch by powerful cartilages, which encase 

 them on every side ; the locking of the head of the femur, 

 or thigh-bone, into a deep socket, or cup, formed in the hip- 

 bone to receive it, and the binding together of this entire 

 arrangement by the strongest ligaments — these, it would 

 seem, should prove sufficient to defy almost every injury. 

 Yet it is quite possible to subject the joint to concussions so 

 violent as to produce dislocation. The head of the femur is 

 wrenched from its socket, and the bone drops downward, 

 giving to the hip a peculiarly slipped or broken appearance. 

 Occasionally, tlie head of the femur is even fractured. This 

 IS treated of elsewhere, under its proper head. 



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