ARTISTIC HORSE-SHOEING. 113 



most common amount of mischief is only a slight separation 

 of a few of the very small fibres of which the bundle is 

 Qomposed; and this state is then generally spread over a 

 considerable surface, prcrducing considerable soreness from 

 inflammation. Tendonous and Ligamentous Strains are 

 very similar in their nature, and consist either in an absol- 

 ute tearing apart of these fibres, or such an approach to 

 this as to cause great inflammation, and consequent inca- 

 pacity for using them. Sometimes what is supposed to be a 

 strain of the tendon is really an inflammation in its sheath, 

 which causes great swelling and pain, and the limb is 

 thereby rendered quite useless for the time being. 



Strain of the Shoulder is generall^^ a cloak for the igno- 

 rance of the groom or other attendant upon the horse, it 

 being really a very rare accident, though often assigned as 

 a cause for lameness which is really in the feet, leg-s, or 

 knees. It is an inflammation of some of the muscles of the 

 shoulder following violent strain, and generally confined to 

 the serratus muscle, which slings the body to the shoulder- 

 blade, and which is sometimes strained in coming clown 

 from a high leap, etc. The symptoms are a dragging of 

 the toe in the walk, with deficiency of action on the trot, 

 and a drop of the head while the afl'ected leg is being ex- 

 tended, and not while it is on the ground ; hence, when 

 shoulder lameness, is mistaken for foot lameness, the 

 groom is apt to shift the blame on to the wrong foot. It 

 may also be distinguished by laying hold of the affected leg, 

 and draAving the whole together icith the shoulder forwards, 

 when, if the latter is affected, the horse will give evidence 

 of pain, which he will not do if the foot or leg is the seat of* 



