74 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



Course. — In some eases a rapidly progressive atrophy char- 

 acterizes the case and lameness and atrophy appear at about 

 the same time. The affection in such instances does not re- 

 cover spontaneously but constitutes a condition which requires 

 prompt and rational treatment so that function may be fully 

 restored to the parts involved. 



Occasionally one may observe cases where there is but slight 

 atrophy; where the disease progresses slowly and atrophy is 

 not extensive or marked. In vigorous young animals that are 

 left to run at pasture when so mildly affected, spontaneous re- 

 covery occurs. 



Symptomatology. — Lameness is the first manifestation of 

 shoulder atroi3hy, and in many cases where lameness is slight, 

 the veterinarian may fail to discover the exact nature of the 

 trouble if he is not very proficient as a diagnostician of lame- 

 ness or if he is careless in taking into consideration obtainable 

 history, age of the subject, etc. Because of the fact that the 

 average layman believes that practically every case of fore-leg 

 lameness wherein it is not obvious that the cause is elsewhere, 

 is due to a shoulder affection of some kind, we may be too hasty 

 in giving the client assurance that no "sweeny" exists. In some 

 of these cases where a diagnosis of "shoulder lameness" has 

 been made and the client has been assured that no sweeny exists, 

 the patient is returned in about a week and there is then marked 

 atrophy of one or both of the spinatus muscles. 



A mixed type of lameness characterizes this affection, and in 

 the average case there exists little evidence of local pain. The 

 salient points in recognizing the condition are a consideration 

 of history if obtainable ; age of the subject ; finding slight local 

 soreness, by carefully manipulating the muscles which are usu- 

 ally involved; noting the character of the lameness if any is 

 present ; and where atrophy is evident, of course, the true con- 

 dition is obvious. 



Treatment. — Sulx-iitanooiis injections of (M|ual parts of re- 

 fined oil of turpentine and alcoliol, with a suitable hypo- 

 dermic syringe, is a practical and ordinarily effective treatment. 

 From five to fifteen cubic centimeter.s (the quantity varies with 



