Diseases of the Limbs and Boxy Structuke 237 



lamexess of the joixts axd muscles 

 The preferable way to review the accidents and ailments oc- 

 curring in the various structures of the extremities would be to 

 take up each set of organs separately and recite the various path- 

 ological conditions met with, but to do this with any detail would 

 preclude the possibility of publishing any other information con- 

 cerning the horse, in a medium-sized bulletin. A physiological, 

 histological and pathological discourse of the bony structure alone 

 would require many pages of dry reading. We will, therefore, 

 content ourselves by mentioning the symptoms and results most 

 commonly associated with periositis (inflammation of the skin 

 of the bone), ostitis ( inflammation of the bone), exostosis (bony 

 growth), and sprains of muscles, tendons and ligaments. 



Perhaps the simplest way to cover the structures involved 

 would be by regional discussions. Let us begin at the shoulder 

 joint, keeping in mind that we have all the structures mentioned 

 above involved at this joint. Consequently we may have sprained 

 muscles or ligaments and open joint (scientifically known as 

 suppurative synovitis) cuts, bruises, etc. Horses ordinarily are 

 not lame above this joint in the true sense of lameness. It is true 

 that an animal may suffer a fracture of the shoulder blade or have 

 a deep-seated abscess, such as the formation of a fistulous whither 

 or other injuries between the shoulder blades, but there is no 

 joint at the top of the shoulder as we have heard some describe, 

 neither does the shoulder blade play any important part in loco- 

 motion, simply being attached to the anterior sides of the body as 

 a mfeans of support. 



In treating lameness or injuries of the shoulder, when it is 

 plainly evident that the shoulder is involved, the following rule, 

 which applies to sprains and strains generally, should be followed: 

 Bathe the parts with either very hot or very cold water ; heat when 

 properly applied is more soothing than cold. A very efficient way 

 of applying heat to the shoulders or legs is by what the horsemen 

 term " steaming." The parts are bathed with very hot water, 

 as warm as the hand can endure; a woolen cloth or blanket is 

 wrung out of water equally as Avarm and this is covered by either 

 a rubber, canvas or dry blanket. In this way the heat is forced 

 into deeper structures, and is very soothing. In such cases a 

 mild liniment applied after bathing is often beneficial. 



