CHAPTER IV 



SPRAINS. 



General re/ncirks on the Nature and Treatment of Sprains. Sprain oj the 

 Suspejisory and Check Ligaments. Cicrb . Sprained Back. Sprain oJ 

 Fetlock and Hock. Sprung Hock. Spraiii of the Shoulder and 

 Elbow foints. 



GENERAL REMARKS ON THE NATURE AND TREATMENT 



OF SPRAINS. 



In dealing with the important subject of sprains, we shall adopt the same 

 method as the one we followed in treating of wounds ; firstly, speaking of 

 sprains and their treatment generally^ and then turning our attention to the 

 elucidation of the nature and therapeutic measures, necessary for the 

 treatment of these unfortunately common injuries. No doubt our readers 

 are aware that the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are the structures which 

 under certain circumstances may be "sprained" or "strained." The 

 muscles are endowed with contractile power, and by means of this, the 

 bodily movements are executed. Had v.'e space at our disposal, we might 

 enter shortly into a consideration of the micrpscopical features and 

 physiological properties of muscle, for these are of extraordinary interest. 

 For the most part the voluntary muscles of the body act as sources of 

 power, for moving the various bones, to which the muscles are attached. A 

 tendon is chiefly composed of a bundle of white fibres intermingled with 

 cells. It is attached to the muscle by one extremity, and narrowing into a 

 firm, strong cord, is securely united to tlie bone by the other. The ligaments 

 are tissues, the purpose of which is to bind together the structures, entering 

 into the formation of the joints, thus rendering the union more firm. 



By a sprain we understand an overstretching or rupture of some of the 

 elements of a muscle, tendon, or ligament, dependent upon sudden or 

 continuous strain of the tissues. As a rule, sprain of a muscle more cjuickly 

 disappears under rest and proper treatment, than a like injury to a tendon or 

 ligament. As one might naturally expect, sprains are most commonly met 

 with in the fore feet of horses, more especially in animals used for 

 continuous and rapid work en hard ground. 



