388 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



1— The Shoulder. 



SPRAIN OF THE SHOULDER — BLOWS — SHOULDER LAMENESS — 

 RHEUMATISM. 



Sprain or Strain of the Shoulder. — When the farrier 

 finds himself at a loss to point out the exact seat of lame- 

 ness, he generally takes refuge in the convenient generality 

 of " sprain of the shoulder." The occurrence is rare, but 

 when it does occur is easily detected. The tenderness of 

 the muscle itself, inside the shoulder, and its inflammation, 

 together with the peculiar action of dragging the toe along 

 the ground, then dropping the knee suddenly, are indications 

 of sprain of the shoulder. Its causes are a side fall, or a 

 wrench, by which the fore legs are suddenly stretched apart 

 so widely as to sprain either the muscles or ligaments — pro- 

 bably both. In this case the animal cannot move down 

 the slightest declivity without intense pain, from the weight 

 being thrown upon the shoulders; and, in the attempt, 

 swings round the leg in a peculiar manner, endeavouring 

 so to accomplish the movement as never to call upon the 

 shoulder muscles to elevate the scapula. If the foot be laid 

 hold of, raised, and brought into a straight line, the seat 

 of pain will be indicated by the suffering animal. Again, 

 pressure on the serratus muscle will cause the horse to 

 shrink. Of course, if lameness has its seat in the arm or 

 foot, neither of these tests are even noticed by the patient. 

 A deceptive appearance of shoulder sprain occurs when, 

 viewing a lame horse from the front, we find the muscle of 

 one shoulder wasted, imparting an appearance of swelling to 

 the sound limb ; this resulting from the lame limb having 

 been saved from exertion by the suffering animal, and there- 

 fore diminished in volume. In this case the sound limb is 

 condemned as the seat of lameness, and treated, or ill- 

 treated, accordingly. Never, therefore, omit both the tests 

 above mentioned. 



White says : " There is one kind of shoulder lameness 

 which is consequent on an injury of the great synovial 

 cavity, or bursa mucosa, through which that great tendon 

 passes which arises from a protuberance on the lower part 

 of the shoulder-blade, and slides over the large grooved pro- 

 cess at the head of the shoulder bone. This large grooved 

 process is covered with a slippery cartilage, as in other 



