LEGAL ASPECT OF SPRAIN. 61 



Sprained Back. 



The chief varieties of this accident are : (1) Sprain of the liga- 

 ments which connect the vertebrae of the loins and back together ; 



(2) sprain of the " under-cut muscles " (similar to those of a sirloin 

 of beef, or saddle of mutton) ; and (3) sprain of the large muscle 

 (ilio-spinalis) which runs, on each side of the back-bone, along the 

 loins and back. The action of the " under-cut " muscles is (when 

 the hind legs are fixed) to bend the loins ; that of the ilio-spinalis, 

 to straighten them. The principal causes are : (1) Violent efforts 

 to extend (straighten) the back, as when struggling on the ground 

 with the hind feet secured and brought forward for an operation, 

 jumping, or drawing a heaxj load ; (2) violent efforts to flex (bend) 

 the back, as when a horse " slips-up "' with his hind legs behind him, 

 or when his hind legs get caught in a fence when jumping ; and 



(3) falls. 



The usual symptoms are those of more or less paralysis of the 

 hind legs. If the horse is quite unable to support himself behind, 

 even when lifted up on his feet, we may conclude that he has broken 

 his back, an accident which is not incompatible with his possessing 

 some sensibility in his hind quarters, and with the power of moving 

 his tail; always supposing that there has not been displacement 

 of the fractured ends of the broken vertebra. 



TREATMENT.^If the patient can stand moderately well, put 

 him in slings (p. 680) ; but if not, then let him lie do^vn and keep 

 an attendant to prevent him from attempting to rise. Give three or 

 four enemas (p. 632), with intervals of a couple of hours between 

 each, to clear out the intestinal canal, and, it may be, to soothe 

 the inflamed parts. Give a pint of linseed oil as a drench, and 

 proceed as directed imder " General Treatment of Sprains " (p. 26 

 et seq.). 



Legal Aspect of Sprain. 



Any alteration of structure, caused by sprain, in a part which 

 is concerned in the locomotion of a horse, is undoubtedly an un- 

 soundness. 



