THE STUDY OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM 73 



run at grass is to be highly recommended, while, at times, blistering 

 may be found expedient. 



138. Lameness of the Shoulder may arise from many causes, 

 such as an injury to the muscles of the shoulder, or to the long 

 muscle of the neck, or to rheumatism, disease of the liver, or even a 

 slight disorder of the stomach, caused by a feed of new oats, Indian 

 corn, or strange food of any kind, inducing indigestion. In all these 

 cases the symptoms of the lameness are much alike : the limb is 

 carried stiffly, and swung in a round-about, outward manner, with 

 dragging of the toe. To detect from what source it arises, the 

 history of the case is necessary, accompanied by the eye and finger 

 of an expert. It may be from any one of those already enumerated, 

 or others not mentioned, so that a careful and proper examination 

 must be made before any treatment is adopted. If from injury, cold 

 water irrigation daily, followed by blisters and long rest, should be 

 resorted to ; if from indigestion or change of food, one ounce of 

 carbonate of soda daily for a few days in the food will be found very 

 beneficial. 



139. The Shoulder Joint is also frequently the seat of disease, 

 either from injury of the joint itself or through the muscle — flexor 

 brachii — as it passes over the head of the humerus, being sprained, 

 or from the sprain of some of the muscles in the near neighbourhood 

 of the joint. The point of the shoulder is occasionally damaged by 

 the animal running against some hard substance, such as a stone 

 wall, etc. Any one of these injuries causes great pain, lameness, 

 and enlargement of the parts. 



140. Treatment. — Rest is the first essential ; then hot or cold 

 applications of water may be tried, followed by blistering. Setons 

 act well at times in such cases, with a run out on grass. 



141. Rheumatism may be regarded as being due to some 

 peculiarity in the blood, the exact nature of which is not as yet 

 known, and is both acute and chronic. Nearly all the structures of 

 the body are subject to its baneful influence. It is not, however, so 

 common in the horse as in the human subject ; but, from long 



