SWEANEY. 



967 



A badly fitting collar often gives rise to it. A prominent 

 cause 'also is some injury to the foot, which would prevent a 

 proper use of the muscles of the shoulder, and thereby cause an 

 atrophied or wasted condition of them. So that when there is 

 wastino- of the part, the foot should be carefully examined to see 

 if there is any cause for it, and if so, removing it will of itself be 

 sufficient to make a cure. 



Symptoms.— At first, though it is seldom noticed, the muscles 

 swell up, are hot and tender ; in the course of a feAV days, the 

 swelling has disappeared, and the muscles are becoming fast ab- 

 sorbed. In many cases this 

 goes on till the bone can be 

 felt. There is little or no pain 

 on pressure in this stage, and no 

 positive lameness ; but there is a 

 peculiar rotary motion of the 

 limb, from the other muscles 

 having no counterbalancing 

 power. This is sometimes mis- 

 taken by non-professional men 

 for dislocation of the shoulder- 

 joint. This, however, cannot 

 occur, unless it is accompanied 

 by sevei-e laceration, or even 

 fracture. 



Treatment.— In the first in- 

 stance, rest and hot fomentations are indicated, which, as the 

 process of reproduction begins, should be followed by stimulant 

 embrocations or mild blisters, frequently repeated, with moderate 

 walking exercise. In this case, we must trust more to nature 

 than medicine ; and in time the muscles will be reproduced, and 

 by gentle work and well-fitting harness he will become as sound 

 as ever. Many do nothing for them, but turn them to pasture, 

 and in most cases they come up all right. 



The simplest and most effective treatment for filling up the 

 shoulder is the rubbing on thoroughly with the hand of soft soap, 

 to which a little salt has been added. This do four or five times 

 in the course of a week. This simple remedy, which is very 

 effectual for this purpose, has been kept as a great secret by a 



Fig. 832. — An ideal representation of the 

 shoulder with sweaney. 



