84 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



Treatment. — "When animals are not aged and of sufficient 

 value to justify treatment, they are best supported in a sling, if 

 halter broken. If subjects are nervous, wild and unbroken, it 

 is possible to employ the sling, if care is given to train the ani- 

 mal to this manner of restraint. The presence of an attendant 

 for a day or two will reassure such subjects so that even in 

 these cases it may be j^racticable to employ the sling. 



Braces and other mechanical appliances intended to immobi- 

 lize the parts are not of practical benefit in the horse. Unlike 

 the dog, the horse as yet has not been successfully subjected to 

 tolerating rigid braces for the shoulder and hip. 



Everything possible must be done that will make for the pa- 

 tient's comfort. If the subject turns out to be a good self nurse, 

 and the nature of the fracture is such that practical apposition 

 of the broken ends of bone may be maintained, recovery will 

 occur in some cases. 



Inflammation of the Elbow. 

 (Arthritis.) 



Affections of this articulation other than those which are pro- 

 duced by traumatism are rare. This joint has wide articular 

 surfaces, and securely joined as they are by the heavy medial 

 and lateral ligaments (internal and external lateral ligaments), 

 luxation is practically impossible. When luxation does occur, 

 irreparable injury is usually done. Castagne as quoted by 

 Liautard^ reports a case of true luxation of the elbow joint in a 

 horse where reduction was effected and complete recovery took 

 place at the end of twenty-five days. This is an unusual case. 

 The average practitioner does not meet with such instances. 



Anatomy. — The condyles of the humerus articulate with the 

 glenoid cavities of the radius and a portion of the ulna. Two 

 strong collateral ligaments pass from the distal end of the hu- 

 merus to the head of the radius. The capsular ligament is a 

 large, loose membrane which encloses the articular portion of the 

 humerus with the radius and ulna and also the radioulnar articu- 

 lation. It is attached anteriorly to the tendon of the biceps 



^American Veterinary Review, Vol. 26, p. 1068. 



