250 THE FARMER'S VETERINARIAN 



Sprains are most common in the legs, at the fet- 

 lock joint, in the tendons just back and above the 

 fetlocks, but may occur in any part. 



The first and most important thing in the treatment 

 > of sprains is rest, as sprains are a long time in mak- 

 ing a complete recovery. In the early stages, that 

 is, before swelling has taken place, applications of 

 cold water should be used, applications of hot 

 water, or hot packs of water, 1,000 parts, and bi- 

 chloride of mercury I part, are very good. This 

 ; will relieve the pain and reduce the swelling. Ap- 

 plications of liniments are also very good. Should 

 there be great heat and soreness in the part, it is 

 well to use cold applications. Never blister in the 

 early stages A blister may be used after the swell- 

 ing has gone down, and the part has become cold, 

 from two to four weeks after the injury occurred. 

 This should be followed by rest for some time after 

 all lameness has disappeared. 



STAGGERS. Staggers in horses is an affection 

 of the brain showing itself usually in one of two 

 forms sleepy or stomach staggers and blind or 

 mad staggers. In the first form the stomach is at 

 fault. Sudden change of feed, moldy or dirty food 

 heavy work or fast driving right after a heavy meal 

 or severe exposure is liable to cause indigestion in 

 the stomach and this is reflected to the brain, caus- 

 ing the animal to act dull or sleepy, sometimes 

 showing symptoms of serious colic, with gas form- 

 ing from the fermentation of the food, frequently 

 resulting in death. 



Blind or mad staggers is an inflammation of the 

 brain and may affect any of the lower animals. 

 In the beginning of this form the symptoms closely 

 resemble those in the stomach form, but as the in- 

 flammation progresses the animal becomes blind 



