GENERAL THERAPEUTICS OF THE ORGANS OF LOCO- 

 MOTION (MUSCLES, TENDONS, NERVES, 

 ARTICULATIONS, BONES) 



Therapeutic Methods. — The diseases of the organs of locomo- 

 tion comprise the principal part of surgery. They include the 

 consideration of inflammation, atrophy, paralysis and laceration 

 of the muscles, paralysis of the nerves, inflammation and lacera- 

 tion of tendons, inflammation and fracture of the bones, and 

 inflammation and dislocation of the articulations. The thera- 

 peutic methods employed in the treatment of these diseases are 

 naturally very numerous and differ with the character of the 

 individual case. With regard to them and the excellent natural 

 healing processes which operate in these conditions, especially in 

 bone fractures, the reader is referred to the text-books on general 

 surgery. Nevertheless, there are some observations to be made 

 from the standpoint of general therapeutics. The surgical methods 

 of treatment most frequently used are the following: 



1. The rest treatment is the most important method of healing 

 in all painful and acute inflammatory conditions of the muscles, 

 tendons, bones, and articulations. "Rest the afflicted part." 

 Simply permitting horses to " stand " will alone in many cases 

 bring about healing (natural healing). The application of a 

 plaster-of-Paris dressing in fracture of bones and sprained joints 

 acts in the same manner. 



2. The exercise treatment, on the contrary, is indicated in 

 some chronic inflammatory conditions of the muscles, nerves, 

 tendons and articulations (muscular rheumatism, atrophy of 

 muscles, paralyses of muscles and nerves, and contractions). By 

 exercise, as by massage, the circulation, resorption, innervation 

 and metabolism are stimulated locally and generally, muscular 

 activity and the body constitution are strengthened, and under 



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