LAMENESS, FROM NARIOUS CAUSES. 328 



and, in order to relieve the feet, the horse spares the muscles, which, 

 for want of free and full action, leads to diminished DuH^ion .tnd 

 wasting (atrophy). Some of the readers of this work must have 

 noticed the fact of the shrinking of the muscles of the haunch in 

 case of disease or severe lameness of one of the hind feet. Thia 

 shrinkage often occurs, as in the case of the shoulder, from want 

 of natural action and fall play of the muscles concerned. We 

 have ample proof that wasting is the result of want of action, in 

 the fact that when a horse becomes the subject of a painful disease 

 in the hind foot, he neither advances nor rotates the limb any 

 more than he can possibly help, but holds the foot up, sometimes 

 points it. On examination, the atrophy, or wasting, is confined to 

 the muscles which perform these two actions ; and in the case of 

 pain or lameness in one of the fore-feet, the same faulty action is 

 observable, and the same class of muscles (whose action is almost 

 identical with that of the hind parts) are the ones affected. 



The author deems it of great importance that husbandmen 

 should fully understand this subject; for it will enable them to 

 perceive that, while inflating horses' shoulders with a quill, or 

 practicing any other absurd treatment in the vicinity of the wasted 

 or sweenied Khoulder, they are overlooking the real malady (in 

 the foot), and at best are only treating symptoms. On careful 

 examination, however, should it a])pcar that the patient is free 

 from any disorder of the foot or feet, and, on the other hand, it ia 

 clearly evident that myositis or myalgia (muscular pain) exists, 

 then the treatment must be directed to the affected parts. The 

 facts in either case can only be determined by a competent pructi 

 lioner. 



The author has often noticed that when horses have been over- 

 driv« J €1- overworked, they become stiff and lame in those part* 

 of the body most susceptible to the ordinary influences. For 

 example, one horse may perform a long journey, with a weighty 

 man on his back, and the next day show symptoms of lamenesa 

 in the lumbar region. His back is arched ; the limbs are brought 

 miQer the center of the body, and every movement indicates that 

 the animal suffers tormenting pains, which are located in the mii»- 

 cles of the back. This is myositis, or inflammation of the nuiscular 

 fiber. Sometimes, however, tlie malady constitutes myalgia (raus- 

 cniar pain and spasm), unaccompanied by inflammatory acliofi. 

 AjQother horse may be put to a similar kind of work, and, in s 



