956 DISEASES AND THEIE TEEATMENT. 



of each to one pound of tar, are well mixed, and applied with a 

 degree of firm pressure, at least every second day, the worst cases 

 can be cured. 



Moderate work, if it can be done without the foot getting 

 wet, will expedite the cure. The following is highly recom- 

 mended as a dressing : Take equal parts of pine tar and lard, melt 

 over a slow fire, and add sulphuric acid very slowly until ebuli- 

 tion (boiling) ceases. Apply this to the parts. 



Sprains, Bruises, etc. 



Sprains are so common, and so liable to spoil a horse when 

 neglected or not treated properly, and in addition the treatment 

 is so simple and easily applied, that the subject is worthy of more 

 than ordinaiy attention. On this account I have introduced 

 several illustrations, showing the parts involved in the fore legs, 

 the parts most liable to such injury. 



Sprain may bo said to consist in an overstretching of the 

 part (be it muscle, tendon, or ligament) to such a degree as to 

 cause rupture of some of the fibres of which it is composed, in 

 consequence of which inflammation is set up, and effusion takes 

 place, producing enlargement around the part. 



The reason why sprains take so long to recover is, the lacer- 

 ated fibres have to be absorbed, and new ones formed in their 

 place, or, as is often the case in repeated sprain of the same part, 

 their place is filled up by organized lymph, leaving a permanent 

 thickening. 



Causes. — Natural weakness of the part sometimes predisposes 

 to it. It may arise from whatever exposes the part to inordinate 

 exertion, as, for instance, slipping on ice or on a rolling stone, 

 awkward stepping, galloping on rough or uneven ground, and a 

 common cause is, allowing the feet to grow too long. 



Symptoms. — In severe cases the part is swollen, hot, and 

 tender, the limb is thrown into a position that relaxes the sprained 

 part. If extensive, we have symptomatic fever, and he refuses 

 his food, has the mouth hot, pulse accelerated, etc., which passes 

 off when the more acute symptoms subside. Lameness, of course, 

 is continuous, thus differing from disease of the joint, in which he 

 is always lamest at starting, getting less lame as he gets warmed up. 



Treatment. — No matter where the location of the sprain is, 



