367 



Sprains of the Joins. — This is an affection whicli suggests to the 

 mind the idea of muscular injury, and is difficult to distinguisli from 

 man}' similar eases. If the animal shrinks from the slightest pres- 

 sure or j)inching of the spine, in the region of the loins, he is by many 

 I)ronounced to be "lame in the loins," or "sprained in the loins," or 

 " weak in the kidneys." This is a grave error, as in fact this simiile 

 and gentle j'ielding to such a i3ressure is not a pathological sign, but 

 is normal and significant of health. Yet there are several conditions 

 to which the definition of " sprains of the loins " may applj' which are 

 not strictly normal. The muscles of the back and those of the loins 

 proi)er, as the psoas, may have been injured, or again there maj' be 

 trouble of a rheumatic nature, perhaps suggestive of lumbago. 

 Diseases of the bones of the vertebral column, or even those of the 

 organs of circulation, may giA'e rise to an exhibition of similar symp- 

 toms. These sj^miDtoms are characteristic of a loss of rigiditj* or firm- 

 ness of the vertebral column, both when the animal is at rest and in 

 action. In the former condition, or when at rest, there is an arched 

 condition of the back and a constrained posture in standing, with the 

 hind legs separated. In the latter there is a lateral, balancing move- 

 ment at the loins, i^rincipall}' noticeable while the animal is in the 

 act of ti'otting — a iDCCuliar motion, sometimes referred to as a "crick 

 in the back," or what the French call a '^tour de hafeau.'" If, while in 

 action, the animal is suddenly made to halt, the act is accompanied 

 with much j^ain, the back suddenly arching or bending laterally, and 

 perhaps the hind legs thrown under the bod 3', as if unable to perform 

 their functions in stopping, and sometimes it is only accomjilished at 

 the cost of a sudden and severe fall. This manifestation is also 

 exhibited when the animal is called upon to back, when a repetition 

 of the same symptoms will also occur. 



If a slight i)ressure on the back or the loins is followed by a moder- 

 ate yielding of the animal, it is, as we before remarked, a good sign 

 of health. With a sprain of the loins j)ressure of anj- kind is i^aiuf ul, 

 and will cause the animal to bend or to crouch under it more or less, 

 according to the weight of the pressure. Heavy loads, and even 

 heavj' harnessing will develop this tenderness. In lying down he 

 seems to suffer much discomfort, and often accompanies the act with 

 groaning, and when compelled to rise does so only with great difficulty 

 and seldom succeeds without repeated efforts. 



Sprains of muscles proper, when recent, will always be accompanied 

 by this series of symptoms, and the fact of their exhibition, with an 

 excessive sensibility of tlie parts, and possibly with a degree of swell- 

 ing, will always justifj^ a diagnosis of acute muscular lesion; and 

 especially so if accompanied by a history of violent efforts, powerful 

 muscular strains, falls, heavy loading, etc., connected Avith the case. 

 But if the symptoms have been of slow development and gradual 

 increase, it becomes a more difficult task to determine whether the 



