SPRAIN OF THE ROUND BONE. 235 



in consequence of falling, or being run violently 

 against, or receiving a heavy blow, the prominent 

 parts of the haunch may be broken off. There is an 

 immense mass of powerful muscle here ; so that it 

 would be utterly impossible to keep the disunited 

 pieces of bone accurately together : yet nature will do 

 much towards it ; for if, after the inflammation has a 

 little abated, a thick charge be put over the loins, the 

 fractured portions may some months afterwards be 

 found connected with the part from which they had 

 been separated. There wall always, however, be some 

 difference in the appearance of the two hips, yet very 

 rarely any lameness ; and the horse will perform its 

 work with tolerable ease, but never with the former 

 pleasure to itself. 



SPRAIN OF THE ROUND BONE. 



One would think it was impossible that the liga- 

 ments connecting the thigh-bone with the haunch 

 could be subject to sprain ; the enormous mass of 

 muscle by which they are surrounded seems to bid 

 defiance to any power of extension. Dislocation, or 

 even strain of this joint, does not occur so often as the 

 groom imagines. Lameness from sprain of the round 

 bone is sometimes characterized by the horse dragging 

 his toe behind him ; and other times by a very pecu- 

 liar rotatory, indecisive motion of the limb. The best 

 proof, however, of the lameness being seated here is 

 the pain evinced by the animal when this joint is 

 firmly pressed upon. There is seldom much enlarge- 

 ment, and the injured part is too deep for the heat to 

 be always felt. 



