962 DISEASES AND TUEIE TEEATMENT. 



for sprains, which is given for insertion by a leading pi'actitioner, 

 will be found good: — 



First wash ^vith very hot water five or ten minutes at a timv:, 

 then apply the following mixture: — 



2 ounces tincture opium. 

 1 ounce cliloroform, 



1 ounce fluid extract aconite, 

 7^ ounces soap liniment. 



To be applied two or three times a day after bathing the parts with hot 

 water. 



If constipated and feverish, it should be given a slight purging 

 ball. If tlie case has run two or three days, and is assuming a 

 subacute stage, then stimulating liniment must be used. The 

 following may be used: — 



2 omices aqua ammonia, 



2}j ounces spirits of camphor, 



7i ounces alcohol. 



'2 



To be rubbed on two or three times a day luitil the skin becomes sore. 



Breaking Down. 



The suspensory ligament is one of the strongest in the body; 

 it is placed immediately l)ehind the cannon-bone, from the head 

 of which it rises; passing down it divides, one division going to 

 each of the small bones at the back of the fetlock (ossa sessa- 

 moides.) (See Fig. 821.) This ligament is the great main-stay 

 of the fetlock-joint, and sustains the most of the weight at this 

 part, consequently we frequently find it snaps asunder imder the 

 great weight thrown upon it in leaping, galloping, etc. It is 

 sometimes broken above the division ; but more commonly, one or 

 both bifurcations are torn. 



Causes. — Violent exertion, or sudden jerks, as is the case in 

 leaping, galloping, or j umping from a height. 



Symptoms. — It is sometimes mistaken for rupture of the 

 flexor tendons; but this is so improbable an occurrence, that we 

 are almost skeptical of its occurrence at all. If it does occur, it 

 is extremely rare. In rupture of the ligaments, the fetlock de- 

 .scends to the ground; but when raised, the animal can flex the 

 foot, which he could not do were the tendons ruptured. It 

 usually occurs near the sessamoides when we have swelling, heat, 

 and pain. 



