27G DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



the spinal marrow also. When the spinal marrow is injured, a 

 paralysis of tlie hind extremities, either total or partial, takes 

 place, and the horse is seldom of much use afterwards. This 

 disease is noticed under the head of palsy. When the muscles 

 of the loins are injured, we can genei'ally succeed in curing by 

 the following treatment: — Copious bleeding, perfect rest, sus- 

 pension or slinging, if the lameness is such as to require it, and 

 covering the loins with a fresh sheep's skin, and blistering, or 

 rubbing some strong embrocation upon them. After this treat- 

 ment has been continued about a week, the hoi-se should be put 

 into a loose box, where he can move himself about freely, and in 

 a week after this he may, if required, have a charge put upon 

 his back, and be turned to grass.* 



Strain or Injury of the Hip Joint, or Round Bone. 



This accident is produced by the hind feet slipping sideways, 

 or by blows on the part, as in falls on the side. In the first case, 

 that is, in slipping sideways, the round ligament of the hip joint 

 is injured or torn. In falling on the part, the injury is of a dif- 

 ferent nature: the cup of the joint or head of the bone may be 

 injured. But a more common effect is a gradual enlargement 

 of the great process of the head of the femur, by which the 

 muscle named gluteus magnus (of the horse, but parvus of the 

 human body) which passes over it, is thrown off a little, and 

 therefore when in action, it forces the head of the femur into the 

 acetabulum, in such a manner as to render motion painful. This 

 happens, in some cases, in such a degree as to produce inflam- 

 mation, and very serious lameness. Lameness in the hip joint 

 may be easily distinguished by the horse inclining his hind parts 

 a little on one side, so as to make one hip appear while he is 

 going a little higher than the other ; but after he has travelled 

 some miles, he becomes a little tired of bearing so much on the 

 sound side, and puts up with the pain of bearing on the lame 

 side, so that he steps or goes equally, and the lameness is no 

 longer observed, until he has stopped a short time, or rested in 

 the stable ; and then, when taken from the stable, he is as lame 

 or lamer than before. Kest alone, at the commencement of the 



* Dislocation of the Neck. Wry Neck. — It sometimes occurs, though 

 very rarely, that the neck is greatly injured from the horse being cast at 

 night with the head under the manger, so that the neck is bent round in tlie 

 form of an arch. This may occur to the extent of actual dislocation of the 

 spine, or it may be that the muscles of the neck are entirely thrown out of 

 action on one side, and the ligaments extended so that the head cannot be 

 raised, but is greatly contorted, and the horse, if he can move, walks in a 

 circle. Although such cases present a very formidable aspect, and are at 

 once condemned as hopeless by most people, several successful cases have 

 occurred in the practice of tlie writer, in wliich tlie treatment consisted in 

 slinging the horse and su]iporting the head by means of pulleys, splints, and 

 bandages, assisted by cooling measures, so as to bring the palsied muscles 

 gradually into action. — Ed. 



