60 SPEAINS 



the shoulder will soon be followed by wasting of the muscles of the 

 shoulder, but not of the muscles of the fore-arm. In chronic lame- 

 ness of the foot, all the muscles of the limb will tend to equally 

 waste away. The wasting of the shoulder muscles will be made 

 manifest by the increased prominence that will be given to the 

 spine of the shoulder-blade, which is the bony ridge that stands out 

 at right angles to the outward surface of that bone, and divides it 

 into two parts. 



The flexor brachii, being a hard tendinous muscle, is apt, after 

 having been sprained, to become turned, more or less, into bone, 

 and consequently to lose its power of contraction ; hence the gravity 

 of a sprain of this muscle. 



Sprain of the capsular ligament is a most serious accident; as 

 it may lead to stiffening of the shoulder joint. 



As a rule, sprain of the shoulder when taken in time and properly 

 treated, is an injury which does not materially impair the value of 

 the animal. 



The shoulder, though often accused of being so, is rarely the seat 

 of lameness. 



TREATMENT. — The cure of these affections depends entirely 

 upon its being attenqoted early, that is, before organic change has 

 taken place ; the best treatment being rest with a high-heeled shoe 

 (Fig. 4, p. 27) on the foot of the affected limb, massage (p. 664) 

 and passive exercise. Many authorities recommend fomentations 

 followed by repeated blisters, in order to determine an increased 

 and continued supply of blood to the part for the repair of the 

 injury. After recovery, the particular kind of work which induced 

 the disease, should be discontinued if possible. 



Sprains of the Elbow and Hip. 



These are rare accidents, which may be distinguished by the 

 presence of lameness, with local heat, i^ain, and swelling; and by 

 the absence of symptoms of disease in other parts. In elbow Inme- 

 ness, the horse shows great unwillingness to put weight on the limb ; 

 for the action of the muscles which are attached to the elbow, is to 

 straighten the elbow joint and thus to maintain the stability of 

 the leg on the ground. 



T'he " round bone " — the hip joint — is a favourite spot to which 

 grooms ascribe disease when the horse goes lame behind; although 

 it is very seldom affected. The hock is the usual seat of lameness 

 in the hind limb. 



TREATMENT. — The treatment is similar to that recommended 

 for shoulder sprain. 



