CHAP. III.] FRENCH NOTIONS OF STRAINS. 471 



CHAP. III. 



LAMENESS FROM STRAINS. 



These are the most deceptious class of ailments 

 attributed to the limbs of the horse ; for many such 

 are spoken of in the most confident manner which 

 do not exist in reality, whilst others could not pos- 

 sibly happen to the parts indicated by the names 

 they commonly bear ; yet shall we fall into this old 

 method of titling the various affections of the limbs 

 in order to render what we have to say more gene- 

 rally understood. Our neighbours, and rival veteri- 

 narians, the French, in the instructions issued to 

 their smiths of the army, went a little farther in their 

 complaisance to error : " All swellings of the tendons 

 from the knee to the coronet, or from the hock to 

 the heel, show an extension or strain of the inte- 

 gument. Take off the shoe and pare the foot." 

 In fact, their practice of ordering rest in all cases 

 of strain, which often effects a cure with very little 

 further assistance, could not be more assuredly com- 

 plied with than by thus taking off the shoes; for 

 the Marechallerie were ill able to retain their sick 

 horses in quarters, upon urgent occasions of active 

 service, unless they could demonstrate the fact upon 

 the view to their superiors, which this taking off the 

 shoes would shew without fear of contradiction. 



