THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



attached to the expanded tendon of a muscle called the ex- 

 tensor of the foot. The suspensory ligament is liable to sprain, 

 and the symptoms are swelling and lameness. 



Treatment. The treatment of these sprains varies. Of 

 course, in all sprains it is essential to keep the affected limb 

 as still and quiet as possible ; and therefore owners of horses, 

 who, in their impatience, take the animal out of his stable 

 every two or three days to see how he is getting on, are acting 

 very injudiciously. The treatment should begin by the appli- 

 cation of cold water, by means of a loose linen bandage fre- 

 quently wetted. This bandage should be removed altogether 

 at night, because, the groom being then absent from the stable, 

 it would soon become dry, and only irritate and heat the 

 injured parts. It is not necessary to take the bandage off to 

 wet it. The limb should be put into a bucketful of water, 

 which ought then to be " slopped " on the bandage for a few 

 seconds. If this be done frequently during the day by the 

 groom while he is about the stable, the bandage will be kept 

 sufficiently wet and cool. Some people prefer diligent fomen- 

 tations for sprains, and there is much to be said in favour 

 of their views. Whether fomentations or cold applications 

 have been adopted, the swelling usually becomes gradually 

 less inflamed, and the pain diminishes. After about a fort- 

 night, it is generally necessary, unless the inflammation still 

 continues, to consider the propriety of applying a strong 

 blister to the part. When this has been done, it is advisable 

 that it be not oiled, or have any greasy or emollient substance 

 applied to it for at least three weeks, and that the crusts should 

 on no account be washed off, or any part of the scurf removed. 

 More haste is worse speed here ; and for the blister to have 

 fair play, its results should not be meddled with, at the least 

 under three weeks. Sometimes, in sprains of the flexor tendons 

 and ligaments of the leg, a high-heeled shoe is beneficially 

 applied to take strain and pressure off the parts. It should 



