246 THE HORSE. 



felt, or there is considerable tliickening about them and between them^ 

 (J), p. 255) and the leg is round instead of flat and deep, there has been 

 what is commonly, but improperly, called, 



SPRAIN OF THE BACK-SINEWS. 



These tendons are enclosed in a sheath of dense cellular substance, to 

 confine them in their situation, and to defend them from injury. Between 

 the tendon and the sheath there is a mucous fluid, to prevent friction : but 

 when the horse has been overworked, or put to sudden and violent exertion, 

 the tendon presses upon the delicate membrane lining the sheath, and in- 

 flammation is produced, and a different fluid is thrown out, which coagu^ 

 latcs, and adhesions are formed between the tendon and the sheath, and 

 the motion of the limb is more difficult and painful. At other times, fron) 

 violent or long-continued exertion, some of the fibres which tie the ten- 

 dons down are ruptured. A slight injiu-y of this nature is called a sprain 

 of the back- sinews or tendons ; and when it is more serious, the horse is 

 said to have broken down. It should be remembered, however, that the 

 tendon can never be sprained, because it is inelastic and incapable of ex- 

 tension ; and the tendon, or its sheath, are scarcely ever ruptured, even in 

 what is called breaking down. The first injury is confined to inflamma- 

 tion of the sheath, or rupture of a few of the attaching fibres. The in- 

 flammation of the part, however, is often very great, the pain intense, 

 and the lameness excessive. The anguish expressed at every bending of 

 the limb, and the local swelling and heat, will clearly indicate the seat of 

 injury. 



In every serious affection of this kind, care should be taken that the 

 local inflammation does not produce general disturbance of the system ; 

 and, therefore, the horse should be bled and physicked. The bleeding 

 may be at the toe, by which an important local, as well as general effect, 

 will be produced. The vessels of the part will be relieved, while 

 fever will be prevented. Let not the bleeding be performed in the usual 

 farrier's way of first paring down the sole, and then taking out a piece of 

 it at the toe of the frog ; in which case a wound is made often difficult 

 to heal, and through w^hich fungous granulations from the sensible parts 

 beneath will obstinately spring: but after the sole has been well thinned, 

 let a groove be cut with the rounded head of a small drawing-knife, at 

 the junction of the sole and the crust (see z in the next cut, p. 249). The 

 large vein at the toe will thus be opened, or the groove may be widened 

 backward until it be found. When the blood begins to appear, the vein 

 may be more freely opened, by a small lancet thrust horizontally under the 

 sole, and almost any quantity of blood may be easily procured. The im- 

 mersion of the foot in warm water will cause the blood to flow more 

 rapidly. When a sufficient quantity has been drawn, a bit of tow may be 

 placed in the groove, and the shoe tacked on. The bleeding wall be im- 

 mediately stopped, and the w^ound will readily heal. 



As a local application, let no hot farrier's oil come near the part, but let 

 the leg be well fomented with warm water two or three times in the 

 day, and half an hour at each time ; and, between the fomentations, 

 let the leg be enclosed in a poultice of linseed-meal. Any herb that 

 pleases the owner may be added to the fomentation, or vinegar or Gou- 

 lard's extract to the poultice ; but the beneficial effect of both depends 

 simply on the warmth of the water and the moisture of tlie poultice. The 

 first object which the surgeon has in view, is to abate the inflammation of 



