148 NON-SPECIFIC OR GENERAL DISEASES 



on the floor. In severe strain, little weight is thrown on the 

 limb and the lameness is marked (Fig. 31). In '^ shoulder slip " 

 the head of the arm bone pushes outward every time the animal 

 throws weight on the limb. This luxation can be noticed best 

 when standing in front of the animal. Marked atrophy of the 

 external shoulder muscles may occur. Such atrophy may appear 

 and disappear quickly, and may result from an injury to the 

 nerve supply of the muscle as well as from favoring the part. 

 Atrophy of the shoulder may occur if the animal is lame in other 

 regions of the limb, especially the feet. The outcome of shoulder 

 lameness is favorable if the disease causing it is given prompt 

 treatment. 



Eest is a very important part of the treatment. It may be 

 advisable to restrict the horse's movements by placing it in a 

 single stall, and tying the animal so that it can not lie down. 

 This should be continued for at least one week. If the horse is 

 restless, it should be given a box-stall or turned out in a small 

 lot alone. It should be watered and fed in the quarters where 

 confined. The local treatment consists in applying mild lini- 

 ments or blisters to the shoulder. It is not advisable, however, 

 to apply a blister if the muscles feel hot and tender. 



Capped Elbow, " Shoe-boil." — Capped elbow is an inflam- 

 mation of the bursa at the posterior surface of the elbow (Fig. 

 32). The swelling that results is usually sharply defined. It 

 may feel abnormally warm and doughy, and it may be painful. 

 Later, the enlargement may be well defined and hard. Some- 

 times the skin is indurated and lies in folds, or the shoe-boil 

 shows abrasions on its surface and fistulous openings leading 

 from abscess centres. The cystic or soft tumor is a common 

 form. Such an enlargement fluctuates on pressure, and when 

 opened, a blood-stained fluid escapes. All forms of capped elbow 

 tend to become chronic. 



The treatment is both preventive and local. As capped elbow 

 is caused by bruising the part with the hoof or heel of the shoe, 



