DISEASES OF THE LEGS AND FEET. 113 



horses that are jumped or galloped. In other horses, they 

 occur less frequently, but they are not uncommon. They are 

 always caused by an undue stram falling upon the structures 

 named. Sprains may appear either suddenly, or they may 

 come on gradually through prolonged strain of a severe nature. 

 The syn^ptoms of sprain to the back tendons and suspensory 

 ligament '^ are readily detected; they consist in more or less 

 swelling of the parts affected, in heat and pain being present, 

 and in severe lameness. Unless the owner has any experience 

 in treating sprains, a veterinary surgeon must be called in, 

 except in the lightest cases of sprain. Complete rest is abso- 

 lutely essential in sprains, and the patient should be placed on 

 a laxative diet. During the earliest stages of sprain, the 

 parts may be frequently fomented with hot water, as hot a» 

 can be borne by the hand. The fomentations should be applied 

 every tliree hours or so for a day. The leg should further be 

 bandaged with a linen bandage, stee-ped in a cooling lotion, 

 composed of one part Goulard's extract, one part spirit, and 

 eight parts of water. A flannel bandage must be put on over 

 the linen one. The sprained parts having been fomented for 

 a day, cold water bandages may then be applied ; these must 

 be kept continually wet and cold by pouring cold water over 

 the leg every two liours. Plentiful and frequent bathing of 

 the injured leg with cold water should also be resorted to. 

 At nights a bandage steeped in the lotion recommended just 

 now may be applied, the cold water treatment being continued 

 throughout the day. When the swelling has subsided, and 

 abnormal heat has disappeared, a liniment or embrocation 

 should be well rubbed into the leg about three times a day. 

 In bad cases, the application of a biniodide of mercury blister, 

 1 part biniodide of mercury to 8 parts of lard, after the inflam- 

 mation caused by the sprain has subsided, is to be recom- 

 mended, and the horse should be turned out to grass or into a 

 straw-vard, some weeks' rest beine eiven. 



* The suspensory ligament lies just in front of the back tendons, 

 and can be seen lying, and felt, between them and the c.innon-bone. 



I 



