234 Diseases of the Horse. 



1. When the sJdn is bruised but not cut. — Tie up the ani- 

 mal's head so that he cannot lie down ; sponge the knee re- 

 peatedly with a cooling lotion (Xo. 247): if there is much 

 swelling give a purge. 



2. When the shin is cut. — Clean the wound very carefully, 

 by repeated w^ashing, and if needed a poultice, then clip the 

 hair around it, and fasten the edges together with sticking 

 plaster, and bandage lightly. Never stitch or pin a knee 

 wound. Stitches will not hold and alwavs blemish. 



3. When the sheath of the sineio is torn open. — The swell- 

 ing is generally very considerable, but the wound appears 

 worse than it will prove to be if careful treatment is used. 

 Tie the horse up, clean and fasten the parts together, as above 

 directed, give a brisk purge, use saltpetre daily in the w^ater, 

 and when the wound is healing hasten absorption by stimu- 

 lating liniments. If the w^ound becomes unhealthy, syringe 

 it with weak carbolic acid water (one drachm to the pint). 



4. When the sinew is torn and the joint opened. — A wound 

 of this severity will either kill the horse, from the fever, 

 suppuration and exhaustion which are certain to follow; or, 

 if he recovers from these, wall leave him with a stiff joint 

 and lame for life. It is only in exceptional cases, therefore, 

 that it is worth while to try to save him. He should be 

 treated as last described, with the addition of strong tonics, 

 to keep up his strength. 



ELBOW LAMENESS, ELBOW SPEAIN. 



A lameness which arises from a disease of the elbow joint 

 or a sprain of its ligaments, shows itself by a half-bent 

 position of the limb while the horse is standing; unwilling- 

 ness to lift the foot far from the ground ; and an excessive 

 dropping or nodding of the head and shoulders when in 

 motion. 



The cause of a sprain at this point is usually the horse's 



