Sjymins and Strains, 231 



it is quite common for it to suffer from over exertion. It 

 will be found swollen and tender along its whole course. 

 Such an accident is especially common in plough horses, and 

 is nearly always on the offside, because the limbs and shoul- 

 ders are thrown into an irrregular position by walking in the 

 furrow.' Such horses will work on the road without any 

 lameness, but will show it as soon as they • are put to the 

 plough. 



3. Shoulder Slip. 



By this is meant a peculiar outward slipping movement of 

 the shoulder joint at each step the animal takes when the foot 

 of the lame limb is upon the ground, and the ojiposite one 

 lifted. It might be supposed that each step threw the 

 shoulder out of joint. But this is not the case. The cause 

 of the trouble is the relaxation of the muscles which usually 

 hold the bone firmly into the cavity of the joint (those mus- 

 cles called by anatomists the anterior spinatus, the posterior 

 spinatus, and the external round muscle). This allov/s the 

 bone to slip around loosely, spoils the gait, and is liable to be 

 followed by sweeny. 



Treatment. — The management of these injuries must be 

 on the general principles laid down for sprains. When re- 

 cent, and when inflammation is present, the horse should be 

 slung, and the part treated yAth cold or hot fomentations. 



Generally, however, a more important question is what to 

 do with such cases in their chronic stage, when they are of 

 long standing. Some horse doctors claim vast skill in their 

 treatment of sweeny, their process always being a profound 

 mystery. 



The best books on the subject do not have other recom- 

 mendation for the restoration of the muscles when wasted 

 than the repeated applications of moderately stimulating lini- 



