284 ' DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



be the immediate treatment. If the lameness has not disappeared by 

 the fourth day, the blister advised for the sprain of the shoulder should 

 be applied, and the same precautions observed as to tying the animal's 

 head and subsequent smearing with vaseline. When a blister is applied 

 in this locality the back part of the heel should be first filled with lard 

 or vaseline, and care taken to prevent any of the blistering preparation 

 from coming in contact with the skin of that part. If this precaution 

 is not observed scratches may ensue and prove troublesome. 



Sprain of the hip. This is likely to result from the animal slipping in 

 such a way as to spread the hind feet wide apart. The patient goes 

 stiff with the hind legs, or lame with one hind leg, walking with a strad- 

 dling gait, and swinging the leg outward as it is carried forward. Ten- 

 derness may occasionally be detected on pressure, but owing to the 

 heavy covering of muscles outside of the joint this test is not always 

 reliable. During the early stages medical treatment is not likely to be 

 of much service. After the fourth or fifth day the blister mentioned in 

 "Sprain of the Shoulder" may be applied with advantage. 



Sprain of the lack. Sprain of the back, particularly in the region of 

 the loins, is not an uncommon accident among cattle. It is likely to 

 occur from the animal slipping with both hind feet sideways so as to 

 twist the back ; or the feet slipping violently backward so that great 

 stress is thrown on the loins. The patient moves with difficulty, using 

 the hind parts in a guarded manner as if afraid of causing severe pain. 

 Occasionally if the sprain is severe the animal will rise with difficulty. 

 Pressure on the back in the immediate region of the loins causes pain. 

 Such cases may be mistaken for paralysis, and in fact in severe cases 

 although the nerve supply is not interfered with, the injury to the mus- 

 cles and resulting pain is so great that the condition is almost equal to 

 paralysis during the early stages of the injury, although likely to be 

 attended with more favorable results. Hot applications, as blankets 

 wrung out of hot water and changed at short intervals, will be likely 

 to afford relief during the earlier stages. Afterwards the cantharides 

 blister mentioned in sprain of shoulder may be applied with advantage. 



FRACTURES BROKEN BONES. 



Bones may be accidentally broken in many ways and from different 

 causes. Fractures in general are likely to be produced by external 

 force suddenly and violently applied, either directly to the part or at a 

 distance, the force being transmitted through the stronger bones until 

 it expends itself by breaking a weaker one remote from the seat of the 

 injury. Occasionally violent contraction of muscles is sufficient to 

 break a bone. Certain bones are more liable to fracture than others, 

 those of the limbs in particular, owing to their exposed position. The 

 bones of some animals are more easily fractured than those of others, 

 owing to certain predisposing causes, such as age, habit, or hereditary 

 constitutional weakness. The bones of an animal advanced in years 



