i84 



When the progression of the animal is not affected by the presence of 

 the curb, even though he be employed for constant work, he is practically 

 sound. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that lameness may result at 

 any time, if the animal be worked hard, more especially on irregular ground, 

 or be regularly run in the chase. This is still more likely to be the case 

 with young animals, and we may mention that curb in a young horse is 

 always to be regarded with suspicion, and as constituting inefficiency or 

 practical unsoundness. In older animals of six or seven years, the tissues 

 may be so far repaired as never to contract sprain again ; but in young ones, 

 laxity of the ligamentous tissues and repeated sprain, may be an almost 

 continual source of lameness. 



In treating curb, the limb should be put at rest by placing a high-heeled 

 shoe on the foot. Although it is a common custom to apply blisters 

 immediately after a horse has ''sprung" a curb, this practice must be 

 strongly condemned. We have seen so much permanent damage done by 

 this means, that we wish to draw the special attention of our readers to the 

 harm it so frequently does, in the early stages. It is the best practice to 

 apply cooling applications, until all inflammation has ceased. This may be 

 best accomplished by directing a stream of water from a hose on to the 

 affected hock, thrice every day. It is well to give the animal a mild dose of 

 physic in the first instance, and to feed him upon mashes and warm water 

 for three days. When the inflammatory action has ceased, the blistering 

 ointment may the7t be applied. In very severe cases it is best to fire at 

 once, and not to try blisterinsr first. 



SPRAINED BACK. 



Sprained back is an injury not very uncommonly met with in the hunting 

 field. It is due to sprain of the so-called psoas muscles, contracted in taking 

 a fence, but more frequently by what is often termed "slipping up." An 

 animal so injured can stand fairly well, as a rule, tliough sometimes he is 

 unable to regain his feet. Our readers will be a^^ are that, if the back be 

 broken, the animal would be absolutely unable to stand, even when raised 

 up. In these cases a dose of physic should be gi\en in the first instance, 

 and the animal should be fed on laxative diet, such as mashes and oil cake 

 gruel. Locally, the sprained parts should be treated by the application of 

 warm water fomentations, followed by the use of anodyne lotions of opium 

 and arnica, formulae for which we mentioned above. 



SPRAINS OF THE FETLOCK, HOCK, SHOULDER, 

 AND ELBOW JOINTS. 



We may now consider sprain of the many structures, liable to injury in the 

 fetlock joint. We need not enter in detail into the distinctive characteristics 

 of sprain of the separate structures of the fetlock, but may speak of them 



