220 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



in front. Later, the legs become somewhat enlarged from the knee 

 downward, and present a rounded appearance. The fetlocks are "filled", 

 and the swollen parts "pit", when pressed upon, like soft dough. Lame- 

 ness now appears in all the paces, and the animal moves with a stiff, sore 

 gait, which becomes aggravated from day to day when work is continued. 



Treatment. In slight cases it may be sufficient to ease a horse in 

 his work, give him a mild dose of physic, transfer him for a time from 

 the hard turf to the tan, and irrigate the legs two or three times daily 

 with cold water. If, however, the patient has no pressing engagement 

 his work should be reduced to walking, with as little weight on his back 

 as possible. In more severe attacks it is better to throw the horse out 

 of work altogether, and apply hot bandages to the legs during a course 

 of physic. 



When the inflammatory action has been subdued, then a mild blister 

 may be applied to the shins from the knee downwards, and repeated in 

 ten days or a fortnight, and again, after a similar period, if circumstances 

 appear to call for it. Iodide of potassium in 1 or 2 dram doses may 

 be given in the food morning and evening for a week, but not until the 

 physic has ceased to act. The medicine should then be discontinued for 

 two or three days, and renewed again for another week, and the same 

 course may be repeated if necessary. In all cases where horses evince 

 the slightest signs of sore shins the weight should be promptly reduced, 

 the pace let down to walking, and, as far as practicable, the work should 

 be done on tan, in cold wet bandages. Many a severe attack may be 

 warded off and horses kept in work by the early adoption of proper 

 measures. 



In some instances, as the result of neglect, these cases assume a chronic 

 character. The shins become considerably enlarged and covered with a 

 rough bony growth, while the periosteum is much thickened, and continues 

 to lay down bone on the shaft of the canons. Here firing with the pointed 

 iron may prove serviceable after a run of two or three weeks at grass in 

 a damp meadow. 



After an attack of this disease horses should not resume work too 

 early, and care should be taken that the ground is soft, and the pace 

 for a time slow. Cold wet bandages should be worn for a week or two 

 after work has been commenced, and occasional irrigation with cold water 

 will assist in imparting tone to the legs. 



