232 DISEASES OF HORSES. 



when the heat has subsided, the part may be considered as in a state 

 of atony; and bandages judiciously applied are then proper, par. 

 ticularly during the day. 



82. Rupture of the tendons and ligaments of the leg. It is very 

 seldom that the tendons themselves are ruptured, but the suspensory 

 ligaments are more often so, and the evil is called breaking down. 

 It is usually very sudden, and the fetlock is brought almost tc the 

 ground. A perfect cure is seldom obtained ; but the inflammation 

 should be moderated by the means already described, and the heels 

 should be raised. A laced stocking or firm bandage, when tho 

 inflammation has subsided, is necessary ; and firing is often prudent 

 as a permanent bandage. 



83. Strains of the ligaments of the fetlock and coffin joints often 

 occur, and may always be distinguished by the heat, tenderness, 

 and swelling. Treat as already described. In all strains of the leg, 

 attended with inflammation, a goulard poultice is a convenient 

 and useful application. The goulard water should be mixed with 

 bran, and a worsted stocking being drawn over the foot, and up the 

 leg, it is first tied around the foot ; the poultice is then put in, and 

 the stocking fastened around the leg above the injury (115.) 



84. Mallenders and sallenders are scurfy, scabby eruptions, af- 

 fecting the back of the knee, and ply to the hock ; common only in 

 coarse, low bred, and in cart horses. Wash with soft soap every 

 day, after which anoint with an unguent formed of equal parts of 

 mercurial ointment, tar, and Turner's cerate. 



85. Broken Knees. The usual cases of broken knees are referable 

 to wounds in general ; and the treatment of them in no wise differs 

 therefrom, with this caution, that here it is more immediately 

 necessary, both for appearance and safety, that if any flap of skin 

 hang apart, to cut it off, or the wound will heal with rugosed edges. 

 But when the joint of the knee is broken into by the violence oi 

 the injury, it becomes of a very different nature, and is known first 

 by the extreme lameness and swelling that occur ; and next by tho 

 escape of a slippery mucus not unlike the white of an egg. If this 

 continue to escape, violent inflammation follows, and either tho 

 horse or the joint are lost by it. Farriers are apt to attempt to stop 

 the flow of the joint oil, as it is called, by oil of vitriol, or other 

 escharotics, which treatment is usually followed by the most disas- 

 trous consequences. It is however, necessary to stop the immediate 

 flow, by other means ; trie best of which if by a fine budding-iron 



