SHOULDEE LAMENESS. 



965 



Tig. 829.- 



As a horse will travel with 

 lame shoulder. 



limb slipping sideways while runniag in a pasture, or slipping in- 

 cidentally on a wet plank, or ice, etc. 



To guard against error in 

 diagnosing affections of the 

 shoulder, it must be borne in 

 mind that all muscular tissue 

 is apt to waste if it is deprived 

 of its usual amount of exercise, 

 as we frequently see in the 

 shoulder; the shoulder shrink- 

 ing on one or both sides, while 

 the real seat of the disease is in the feet ; therefore it is very 

 necessary to be able to distinguish shoulder-lameness from many 

 other affections with which it is apt to be confounded. Many 

 horse doctors and those about horses are apt to attribute every 

 lameness they do not understand, and whose seat is not self-evi- 

 dent, to an affection of the shoulder. 



We have seldom any recognizable tumefaction, nor much heat, 

 unless it be recent and violent. When the horse has strained the 

 shoulder, the limb is brought forward with a peculiar dragging 

 motion, as shown in Fig. 829 ; whereas if the trouble is in the 

 foot, the limb will be raised and brought forward without much 

 difficulty, but put down tenderly to lighten the concussion. 

 While standing, the joints will be somewhat relaxed, the heel 



raised, with the toe resting upon 

 the ground. In moving, the head 

 will be carried low, the limb 

 brought forward with a good deal 

 of difficulty and pain, and with- 

 out ability to bring it in front 

 of the other. 



Treatment. — Give a dose of 



Fig. 830. — Distribution of capillaries physic, foment the shoulder and 

 iu muscle. inside of the arm close to the chest 



with hot water, which is to be continued for at least one hour, and 

 to be repeated as long as there is inflammation ; give fever medi- 

 cine three times a day; give food of a light opening nature, such 

 as grass, bran mashes, etc., and keep him quiet in a box stall un- 

 til the lameness disappears. One of the liniments for sprains, etc. , 



