214 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK 



"On dissecting out a portion of the nerve where it ap» 

 peared to be in a diseased state, it was found that this ecchy- 

 mosis was confined to the membrinous investiture of the 

 nerve, and that its substance, when pressed from its sheath, 

 presented a perfectly natural character. 



"The cavity of the cranium and the whole extent of the 

 spinal canal were next laid open. The brain and the spinal 

 marrow were deprived of their membranous coverings, and 

 both the thecse and their contents diligently examined. There 

 was no lesion in any part of them, not even at the lumbar 

 region. 



"The articulations of every joint of the hind extremities 

 then underwent inspection, and no disease could be detected 

 in either of them. 



" Professor Spooner was of opinion that this peculiar affec- 

 " tion was not referable to any diseased state of the brain or 

 spinal cord, nor to any local affection of the muscles of the 

 limbs, but simply to a morbid affection of the sciatic nerve. 

 He had not dissected a single case of string-halt in which, he 

 had not found disease of this nerve, which mainly contributes 

 to supply the hind extremities with sensation and the power 

 of voluntary action." 



String-halt is seldom sufficiently aggravated to provQ a 

 serious detriment to the horse's qualifications for service. 

 The ungainly and even ludicrously awkward appearance 

 which the gait presents, constitutes the only objection in most 

 instances. But we regard it as a great mistake to consider 

 this peculiarity an indication of unusual power. It is an evi- 

 dence, rather, of bad treatment. The horse has been strained, 

 at some time or other, and the injury then sustained by his 

 muscles has reacted upon the important sciatic nerve. 



TREATMENT. 



Bleed moderately, taking not to exceed three pints of. 

 blood, and repeat the operation at the end of ten days. Ap- 

 ply about a table-spoonful of the corrosive liniment to that 

 part of the hip in immediate connection with the spine, and 



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