474 LIGAMENTARY SPRAI^'S. 



part, either from long-continued exertion or from violent 

 efforts. The effect immediately produced is, heat and 

 swelling of the part, accompanied with great lameness 

 in the injured leg. When it occurs behind, it is often 

 mistaken for common enlargement arising from oedema, 

 particularly when the accompanying lameness be not con- 

 siderable. Such cases have happened, where horses have 

 continued to be more actively exercised to take down the 

 enlargement, until the increased inflammation thus occa- 

 sioned has forced the vessels to deposit coagulable lymph, 

 which, becoming organized, could never be removed. The 

 remedial treatment must be the same as that of other 

 sprains. 



STRAIN OF THE LIGAMENTS OF THE FEMUR, WHIRL, OR 

 ROUND BONE, 



As chestfounder covered all the defects of the fore limbs, 

 so lamenesses behind are all referred, by the older far- 

 riers, to either a strain of the round bone, or of the 

 stifle. Violence may, however, and certainly does, occa- 

 sionally injure the Hgaments of the articulation of the thigh. 

 Here the treatment, from the deep situation of the part, 

 must necessarily be attended with some difficulty. It will 

 be proper to use cold applications to the part, if the pain 

 and tenderness are considerable ; then resort to stimulants, 

 and after a brief time lay on a blister, which should be fre- 

 quently repeated. As a last resource, fire over the joint. 



SPRAIN OF THE LIGAMENTS OF THE PATELLA, OR STIFLE JOINT. 



The ligaments of the patella, or of the stifie, may be 

 injured by over-exertions, or by accidental violence, as 

 blows, &c. This may be known by the circular direction 

 in which the leg is carried, during motion, purposely to 

 avoid flexing the joint. The heat and tenderness are, how- 

 ever, of themselves suflicient to guide the judgment. Some- 

 times the muscles of the thigh, and not those of the joint, 

 are the seat of the injury ; in which case, the tenderness 

 will be found within, towards the groin, and not around 

 the patella or stifle. In treatment, however, this affection 

 in no wise differs from the former. Repeated blisterings 

 and absolute rest in both cases are the best remedies. 



