THE HORSE IN SICKNESS AND DISEASE 389 



synovial cavities, to prevent any friction while the limb is 

 in motion. I have seen shoulder lameness that appeared to 

 depend upon a rheumatic affection of this part. The 

 manner of the horse's going, when this part is the seat of 

 lameness, is very remarkable. In endeavouring to trot, 

 and sometimes even in walking, the fore leg suddenly gives 

 way or bends, and it is only by a considerable effort that 

 the horse can save himself from falling. I had a filly under 

 my care for this lameness, which fell down several times in 

 walking. The remedies I employed were, passing a seton 

 over the point of the shoulder, and blistering all round it 

 pretty freely. This, and confining her some weeks in a 

 box, effected a cure." 



The general Treatment of shoulder sprain should be to 

 bleed freely from the plate vein, just opposite the elbow 

 joint. Three to five quarts is not too great a quantity. 

 Bathe frequently and copiously with a lotion consisting of 

 half-a-pint of tincture of arnica in a gallon of water. 

 Should the case be recent, and the symptoms not violent, 

 bathe with cold water only ; and in either case, when the 

 inflammation subsides, change the cold water for hot. 



In this manner keep the shoulder wet for a week or 

 longer, when, every sign of active disease having departed, 

 a blister may be applied. With regard to the manner of 

 applying the blisters in these cases, the late Mr. Blaine 

 speaks very confidently ; he says : " I would recommend 

 the following practice, which I have long pursued in these 

 cases with invariable success. As soon as the more active 

 inflammatory symptoms are abated, I proceed to raise an 

 artificial inflammation by the free use of stimulants, 

 generally of the liquid blister, in the following manner : 

 Mix six ounces of common oil with two or three ounces of 

 liquid blister, and with this rub the whole affected part 

 twice a day until the swelling and inflammation it will 

 bring on prevent the use of more. In two or three days 

 these will subside, when it should be repeated until the 

 same effects again prevent the application. In this way 

 keep up a mild inflammation for a week or ten days, 

 according to the original violence of the affection ; in 

 general cases the subsiding of the second swelling will 

 leave the horse sound. This will be found a much more 

 efficacious mode of practice than the common blister ; but 

 it must be more particularly remembered, that I know of 



