480 EFFECTS OF STRAINED BACK I [BOOK III. 



stance, and the first lameness decreases greatly : in 

 this event the horse's condition is not at all affected. 

 While staling, his efforts are somewhat ludicrous ; 

 as are also all attempts to make a trot of it v/hen 

 out of harness. These symptoms have deceived 

 some persons into the belief, that the one or the 

 other exertion has caused the strain ; whereas it is 

 only the earliest demonstration of it to the observer. 



Remedies applied early may assist nature, but 

 the lameness never can be cured completely. If 

 the wrench or sprain has been of a violent sort, as 

 in the case of " shoulder strain," let the animal 

 be bled to a good extent, i. e. from three to five 

 quarts, according to the quantity or degree of vio- 

 lence he has sustained ; for it usually happens, that 

 it has been strained all over, in various parts. Two 

 dray-horses, which were employed in pulling beer 

 butts from the cellar of a public-house at the corner 

 of Homer Street, being bached too close to the 

 steps, fell in, the weight of the hinder horse drag- 

 ing in the fore one upon him. Much contusion was 

 the consequence, as well of the accident itself as in 

 dragging them out : they were in fact strained all 

 over, so that they could scarcely stand for a while. 

 Bleeding copiously, however, to the amount of six 

 quarts, reduced the tendency to inflammation ; and 

 although they might be pronounced hurt all over, 

 and the hind horse in particular, both did well after 

 physicking, and a few days of light work. 



We have found a fomentation of hot vinegar of very 

 great service, in a well marked case of recent strain; 



