270. DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



liniment may be rubbed in daily nntil a sufficient effect is ob- 

 tained. Instead of the above liniment, the acetous tincture of 

 cantharides will be equally effectual. 



This treatment will generally effect a cure in the course of a 

 month, more or less ; but, in obstinate cases of longer continu- 

 ance, setons may be inserted over the shoulders, and after their 

 removal the horse may be turned to grass. — Ed.] 



Strains of the Knee Joint. 



[This joint, being so strongly compacted and secured by liga- 

 ments, is rarely strained. Sometimes, however, this is the 

 case, and most frequently in young horses, and particularly in 

 colts in training. The seat of the injury is often the ligaments 

 on the side of the knee, and the strain is frequently severe and 

 obstinate. It is generally produced by slipping on the turf, and 

 sometimes attends a broken knee, which it renders considerably 



worse. 



This part also gets injured by the horse striking the knee 

 against the vtnder part of the manger. 



The treatment should consist of bleeding from the arm, warm 

 fomentations, cold lotions, and when the inflammation is re- 

 moved, imless the case is slight, a blister should be applied, or 

 the iodine ointment. — Ed.] 



A Description of the Tendons, ^c. of the Leg 



Will here be useful, before the injuries of those parts are con- 

 Bidered. 



The flexor tendons, or back sinews, are the appendages or 

 ropes to the flexor muscles, which are situated chiefly on the 

 back part of the fore-arm of the horse ; when these muscles are 

 full or prominent, tapering downwards in a sinewy form, it in- 

 dicates great strength of the fore-leg, and the sinews will always 

 be found of corresponding strength. The elbow in such a fore- 

 leg is generally standing out from the side, and not turned in 

 and concealed, as it is in fore-arms of a different description, in 

 the side of the chest or sternum. These sinews are two in 

 number, and the one is inclosed in the other, so that the latter 

 forms what is termed a sheath for it. The inner tendon, or, as 

 it is named, the perforans, is one of great strength, nearly round, 

 and extends down to the bottom of the foot, or coffin bone, 

 into which it is firmly implanted. The other, or sheath, named 

 perforatus, is considerably thinner, forming, indeed, a mere sheet 

 of tendon, especially at those parts where windgalls happen; these 

 were formerly supposed to be enlarged bursas mucosa), but I 

 have clearly demonstrated that they are nothing more than the 

 tendinous sheath, distended with synovia. 



