SPRAINS, OR STRAINS. 467 



We shall now proceed to trace the symptoms and treat- 

 ment, under these kinds of injury. It is probable that 

 the slightest sprain produces some lesion, however minute : 

 and this, of necessity, causes inflammation to repair the 

 hurt ; w^e therefore always find heat, tenderness, and lame- 

 ness as accompaniments of the slightest affection of this 

 sort, but which a few days, or even a few hours, of rest 

 is often sufficient to repair : rest is the remedy, and Nature 

 has then time to w^ork her own cure ; but work the animal, 

 and much more time, with artificial aids, will be required. 

 If greater violence has been committed, greater re-action 

 will take place ; the effusion will be considerable, conse- 

 quently the tumefaction great ; the heat, pain, and tender- 

 ness excessive ; and the animal will lose his appetite, fall 

 away, and present every indication of symptomatic fever. 

 If judicious means are, however, adopted, these symptoms 

 gradually disappear, and, after a considerable interval, the 

 parts are reinstated in their original integrity by absorption 

 of the extravasation. If injudicious means are adopted, the 

 engorgement remains, and becomes organized into a perma- 

 nent induration, rendering the future action of the horse 

 imperfect and painful. When laceration has extended itself 

 into the sheaths, all these evils will, of course, be aggra- 

 vated. 



The treatment of sprain or strain, in whatever part it 

 occurs, must be essentially the same, and the differences 

 required are rather mechanical than medical. There are 

 two indications that present themselves ; these are, to over- 

 come the inflammation ; and, to restore the disintegration 

 wdiich may remain. A mere muscular extension will be 

 followed by considerable inflammation, the removal of which 

 will often leave the limb sound. But it is otherwise w^hen 

 the ligamentous structures are the principal sufferers : the 

 vascular excitement will less easily give way ; and when it 

 does, will leave much enlargement and much weakness. 

 There is one rule in surgery which cannot be too deeply 

 impressed. After every injury the vital fluid is required 

 for reparation, and therefore never bleed when an option 

 upon the subject is left to you ; and, in the great majority 

 of cases, it is not whether the animal really requires blood- 

 letting, but whether the veterinary surgeon shall perform 



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