SHOULDER JOINT LAMENESS. 169 



evidences of pain, but will in many cases, depending 

 upon the spirit and animation of the horse, get up from 

 the ground with the sound leg and endeavors to wrest 

 the lame leg from you. 



In very severe cases, when occurring from a bruise, the 

 horse will stand on his toe, which is evidence of contu- 

 sion of the shoulder. 



Treatment. — Absolute and entire rest, warm water 

 cloths applied for two days, and followed by cold water 

 ones, in the same way, for as many days. Then a slight 

 blister of the Spanish fly may be rubbed into the skin 

 of the shoulder, taking care that none of it is put on the 

 situation of the colar, as it would render the part a 

 little tender for a while by friction from the colar. 

 Spanish fly in powder, one drachm ; hogs lard, six 

 drachms. Mix, and make an ointment, or salve, and rub 

 in the better half of it into the skin ; next day wash ofi" 

 with warm water, (not hot) and when dry from washing, 

 annoint the blistered parts with oil or lard, daily for a 

 week. It is not advisable to put horses to work, or even 

 exercise, too soon after getting well from lameness. 



Shoulder Joint Lameness. — This is a more serious 

 form of lameness, than sprain of the muscles of the 

 shoulder, and consists in softening of the articular car- 

 tilages of the joint, with inflammation of the joint mem- 

 branes, and great secretion of unhealthy synovia, (joint 

 oil) which produces bulging of the ligaments, (capsular) 

 covering the joint, and can be detected by making the 

 horse stand upon the lame limb, by holding up the other 

 one. This is a disease similar to spavin in the hock-joint, 

 which accounts for the unsatisfactory result of treatment. 



Symptoms. — The horse drags his toe, and throws his 

 leg out at every movement of the limb. 



