298 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



SPRAINED BACK 



When a horse's liind-feet slip under him, and especially if carrying 

 a heavy load, he may suffer a strain of the muscles of the back, or in 

 jumping those under the loin may be sprained. Horses, when jumping a 

 drain and falling short, sometimes suffer sprain in their struggles to gain 

 the bank. In some instances of this kind valuable animals have been 

 destroyed under the erroneous impression that the back \vas broken, 

 when a more careful diagnosis and judicious treatment would have 

 restored the animal to a state of usefulness. 



Paralysis is a symptom common to both broken back and sprained 

 back, but in fracture of the spine, or serious compression of the cord, there 

 is not only inability to rise, but inability to flex the hind-legs in any 

 degree. In the case of sprain of the muscles of the back there remains 

 some capacity for movement in the legs, although the patient may be 

 unable immediately to rise. 



Where there is doubt the prostrate animal should be raised by means 

 of slings, and although he may knuckle over at the fetlocks at first, and 

 show great distress and imperfect control of the hind-legs for a time, 

 the absence of spinal injury will soon become apparent by returning power 

 of the limbs to support the weight of the body. 



In the case of fracture or injury to the spinal cord the hind- quarters 

 will continue to hang helplessly in the slings, and no effort is made to 

 stand, though the distressed creature may make fruitless attempts with 

 his front-feet to secure a footing. In sprain of the back, in which the 

 injury is not so severe as to preclude the animal from getting up, there 

 will still be a difficulty in bringing the hind-legs under him, but this will 

 gradually disappear as reparation proceeds and the muscles regain their 

 tone. 



Following upon disablement from this cause, more or less wasting or 

 atrophy of the injured muscles will sometimes appear. The movements 

 of the hind-limbs are for a time weak, and the fetlocks knuckle over now r 

 and again during progression. 



Treatment. Although a serious accident, sprain of the back may be 

 regarded hopefully, the majority of cases making slow but complete re- 

 covery. Rest in slings has been mentioned already; soothing fomentations 

 applied over the region of the back and warm enemas given frequently will 

 prove helpful; an aperient dose of aloes at first and subsequent careful 

 regulation of the bowels by judicious dieting is also advised. 



At a later period, and prior to a run at grass, a blister over the loins 

 is applied, and, if necessary, repeated. With a view to promoting the 



