228 Diseases of the Horse, 



•SPRAINS OR STRAINS. 



Definition. — Stretching of a muscle, sinew or cartilage, with 

 rupture or other injury to some of its fibres. 



Causes. — Sprains may arise from sudden violent exertion, 

 or long continued slight overtasking of the parts. They are 

 common in the horse, which is so frequently set to work 

 above his powers ; and they cause a number of lamenesses, of 

 frequent recurrence. 



Symptoms. — Strains are always followed by more or less 

 inflammation, characterized by pain and tenderness, heat and 

 swelling in and around the part strained. Unless relieved 

 by proper measures, this condition is very liable to lead to 

 one of atrophy or withering in the part, a form of unsound- 

 ness which is familiarly known in the horse as a sweeny, 

 from the German word sGliwinden, to grow less, to disappear, 



Treatment, — The general line of treatment in sprains and 

 strains may be stated as follows : (1) Give the part rest; 

 (2) Reduce the early inflammation by cold or hot water fo- 

 mentations, cooling lotions, etc. (3) Firm and steady pres- 

 sure by bandages, to prevent "bagging'^ (serous infiltration) ; 

 (4) Counter-irritations and gentle but regular use, to prevent 

 stiffness and sweeny. 



In carrying these principles out we may use, to reduce in- 

 flammation, either plain cold or quite hot water, whichever 

 gives most relief. Or we can employ some of the many 

 evaporating and refrigerant lotions which have been suggest- 

 ed, as, for example — 



