i8 HORSES. 



HEAT, PAIN, AND SWELLING 



are the chief indications of sprain. These symptoms vary in 

 intensity according to the situation of the structure affected 

 and the extent of the mischief. 



By cultivating the habit of feeling the horse's legs in health 

 the hand will know directly it comes across a sprain without 

 causing the sufferer to wince under pressure. A sprain having 

 occurred, the process adopted by nature to cure it is by bringing 

 to the part a largely increased supply of blood, from the 

 elements of which new material is selected to repair the breach. 

 To understand how Elliman's acts, it is necessary to consider 

 the structure of the skin, through whose agency every external 

 remedy must operate. 



The outer layer is insensitive, and consists of piled-up 

 layers or thin scales which from time to time peel off. Under 

 this are other layers of true skin, and among them there exists 

 a network of blood vessels and nerves. It is through the latter 

 that Elliman's exercises its far-reaching effect. The nerves of 

 the skin terminate in a form resembling numerous minute cauli- 

 flowers. These all communicate with the larger trunks which 

 govern the seat of inflammation. When injured the small vessels 

 are paralysed more or less, their calibre not being regulated, on 

 account of injury sustained by the nerves which accompany 

 them, and which in health compress or relax to admit less or 

 more blood. In sprain there is an engorgement of the parts 

 affected. 



ELLIMAN^S, 



by acting on the peripheral nerves (the cauliflower-like 

 extremities), restores them to their proper functions and so acts 

 upon the blood supply; the injured part is no longer flooded 

 with blood of which it can make no use; the source of 

 inflammation is controlled ; the blood already in the part is put 

 to work, and recuperative action begins at once. 



