THE STUDY OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM 77 



necessary, but the skin, once destroyed, is never reproduced In 

 treating these cases, great care is required in dieting the animals, 

 keeping them cool and quiet, as at times lock-jaw supervenes. 

 When the injury is slight, dressing the parts either with Friar's 

 Balsam or flexible collodion twice a day is all that is required. 



149. Speedy-Cut- — This is a braise on the inside of the fore-leg. 

 It may be between the knee and fetlock, at the knee, or even, in 

 a high-actioned horse, above the knee. It comes under the class of 

 contused or bruised wounds, and is caused by the horse striking the 

 mside of one fore-leg with the opposite foot ; very careful shoeing is 

 required, while the damaged part should be treated as under Contused 

 Wounds {pay. 131). 



150. Brushing and Cutting may be classed under the same 

 heading as speedy-cut, being caused by one foot striking the fetlock 

 of the opposite leg ; both fore and hind fetlocks are liable to the 

 injury, but the hind ones more frequently than the fore. The 

 causes vary : sometimes it is the outer rim of the inner web of the 

 shoe that brushes or cuts the joint ; in other cases the toe or inner 

 quarter of the hoof itself is at fault (par. 177, No. 9). 



151. Sprain of the Tendons or Back Sinews and their 

 sheaths may be said to be laceration of the tendinous fibres, causing 

 heat and a painful swelling. This usually occurs below the knee, 

 just where the inferior check ligament joins the tendon (Plate IX., 

 No. 18 ; also Plate XL, Fig. 6, E), but any portion of the latter is 

 liable to lesions, and it is most frequently seen in the fore-leg, 

 specially in cart-horses having heavy loads to pull up steep hills. 

 High-heeled and high-toed shoes may have something to do with 

 causing it, also slipping on ice, overreaching in jumping, etc. The 

 animal steps short, and rests the limb whenever it has a chance. 

 On examining the leg the damaged part is found to be swollen and 

 painful on pressure. The most essential point towards recovery in 

 such cases is entire rest from work ; but this rule is ' more honoured 

 in the breach than in the observance,' and the poor brute is 

 frequently kept at work till repair is hopeless. First, then, as 



