DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 215 



times the strain may be so slight as not to cause 

 much if any swelling of the part, and the animal 

 will be lame. Examine the well fetlock, then the 

 affected one. This will enable us to detect the 

 slightest swelling, and it may also enable us to 

 detect heat, if any. Slight movement of the foot 

 forward will cause pain to the horse. 



Treatment: In severe cases put on a high- 

 heeled shoe. This will elevate the heel and slacken 

 the tendon ; bathe the part with hot or cold water 

 for half an hour, and apply a lotion composed of 

 acetate of lead half an ounce, tincture of opium 

 two ounces, water one quart. Do this three times 

 a, day. Give complete rest until the animal is bet- 

 ter. In chronic cases use cantharides two drams, 

 vaseline one ounce; rub in a little of this; let it 

 remain on for twenty-four hours, then wash it off 

 and apply a little lard. Repeat this every second 

 week until the animal is cured. It can be turned 

 out to grass after the blister is washed off, until 

 two weeks are up, then bring it in and apply the 

 other, and when it is washed off turn out again, 

 and so on. 



Sprains of the Suspensory Ligament. — This lig- 

 ament is situated below the back tendon, and aris- 

 ing from the upper part of the canon bone, it 

 passes down close to the bone. At the fetlock it 

 divides into two branches, each branch becomes 

 attached to the sesamoid bones (two small bones 

 at the back of the fetlock joint). This ligament is 

 sometimes sprained, causing severe lameness. It 

 is also sometimes ruptured (called by horsemen 



