376 



Treatment — The large, puffy joints of suckling colts, as a rule, 

 require no treatment, for as the animal grows older the parts clean 

 up, and after a time the swelling entirely disappears. 



When the trouble is due to an injurj^ entire rest is to be secured 

 by the use of slings and a high-heeled shoe. Cold water douches 

 should be used once or twice a day, followed by cold water bandages, 

 until the fever has subsided and the soreness is largely removed, 

 when a blister is to be applied. 



In old wind-galls, which cause more or less stiffness, some relief may 

 be had by the use of cold compress bandages, elastic boots, or the 

 red iodide of mercury blisters. Opening the sacs, as recommended 

 by some authors, is of doubtful utility, and should onlj^ be adopted by 

 the surgeon capable of treating the wound he has made. Enforced 

 rest until complete recovery is effected should alwaj^s be insisted on, 

 as a too early return to work is sure to be followed by a relapse. 



SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK. 



Sprain of the fetlock joint is most common in the fore legs, and as 

 a rule affects but one at a time. Horses doing fast work, as trotters, 

 runners, steeple-chasers, hunters, cow-ponies, and those that interfere, 

 are particularly liable to this injury. 



Causes. — Horses knuckling at the fetlock, and all those with dis- 

 eases which imi^air the powers of locomotion, such as navicular 

 disease, contracted heels, side bones, chronic laminitis, etc., are pre- 

 disposed to sprains of the fetlock. It generally happens from a mis- 

 stej), stumbling, or slipping, which results in the joint being extended 

 or flexed to excess. The same result may happen where the foot is 

 caught in a rut, hole in a bridge, or in a car track, and the animal 

 falls or struggles violently. Direct blows and punctured wounds may 

 also set up inflamnlation of the joint. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of sprain of the fetlock vary with the 

 severit}'^ of the injury. If slight there may be no lameness, but simply 

 a little soreness, especially when the foot strikes on uneven ground, and 

 the joint is twisted a little. In cases more severe the joint swells, is hot 

 and puffj^, and the lameness may be so intense as to compel the animal 

 to hobble on three legs. While at rest the leg is flexed at the joint 

 affected, and the toe rests on the ground. 



Treatment. — If the injury is slight, cold-water bandages and a few 

 days' rest are sufficient to effect recovery. In cases where there is 

 intense lameness, swelling, etc., the leg should be ijlaced under a con- 

 stant stream of cold water, as described in the treatment for quittor. 

 When the inflammation has subsided a blister to the joint should be 

 applied. 



In some cases, especially in old horses long accustomed to fast work, 

 the ligaments of the joints are ruptured, in whole or in part, and the 

 lameness may last a long time. In these cases the joint should be 



