20 HORSES. 



The absorbents are thus roused to activity, whilst the broken- 

 down tissue is dissolved and carried away. 



In the next place the Embrocation draws to the surface the 

 inflammation, which in a joint or tendon would continue to do 

 irreparable mischief. Nor does its action end here; it causes an 

 effusion under the skin, and so produces a temporary bandage to 

 support the injured part. This has been proved by skinning 

 the leg of a horse which met with a fatal accident while it was 

 in the convalescent stage from a sprain. It was found that a 

 delicate cushion was formed, composed of swollen layers of 

 connective tissue ; it was just hard enough to give support, and 

 just soft enough to make a comfortable bed for the injured 

 structure to rest upon. 



SPRAINED SHOULDER. 



This injury is generally the result of turning the animal 

 suddenly. Colts sometimes sprain the shoulder at grass when 

 galloping about and making sharp and sudden turns. Hunters 

 are the most liable to it, but harness horses get shoulder sprains 

 in turning on uneven ground which they cannot see. Young 

 farm horses, when first put to plough, are frequent subjects 

 of shoulder lameness until they become accustomed to inequali- 

 ties of ridge and furrow. Bruised shoulder is often mistaken 

 for sprain, and may be caused by the horse knocking against a 

 door or gate post when it is startled, or when several horses are 

 squeezing through an opening at the same time. 



Tpeatment. — Ascertain the nature and extent of the trouble 

 as far as possible by manipulating the parts, lifting the limb, 

 i.e., press all round with the knuckle, move the leg backwards 

 and forwards, and observe the position in which the animal 

 most readily flinches. With shoulder troubles it is always a 

 beneficial plan to begin with a good fomentation of hot water 

 twice or three times daily ; this eases pain and prepares the way 

 for the EUiman's. Shoulder lamenesses differ from those lower 

 down in either limbs, inasmuch as the muscles are nearly always 

 affected, while there are no muscles below the knee and hock. 



