CHAP. III.] ASCERTAINING IT — TREATMENT. 475 



\oa somewhat in a semicircle, when he has received 

 a prick in shoeing, this latter sign is not to be taken 

 as finally indicative of " strain in the shoulder," 

 until the foot has been examined, and the shoeing- 

 sraith questioned as to his skill and carefulness. 



Cure. — If the injury be considerable, as when 

 the horse has been thrown down, he should be bled 

 at once, in the plate vein when it is local, but in 

 the neck when the injury has been more general. 

 A laxative ball, or a purgative, must follow, as a 

 matter of course, proportioned to the actual state of 

 his body at the time. A fomentation of camomile 

 flowers, or of scalded bran, should be applied 

 largely and assiduously at the chest and inside the 

 elbow, and these remedies, with rest from all labour 

 and exercise, generally perfect the cure. 



When the swelling is great, but not extensive, 

 as in the case of a kicky spirits of wine, in which 

 a fourth of its weight of camphor has been dis- 

 solved, should be rubbed in. This will supersede 

 the necessity of walking the horse too early, with 

 the hope of recovering the " use of his limb," by 

 promoting the lymphatic absorption. A rowel is 

 sometimes employed, when the heat and swelling 

 are very high, with good effect; but the old system 

 of previously boring and blowing, and laying on 

 H a charge," is exploded as barbarous and inutile. 

 On the symptoms abating, let the convalescent 

 horse have a loose stall, and in proportion as his 

 action may be free from lameness, so should be re- 

 gulated his return to walking, to exercise, and to 



