CHAI\ III.] ADHESION OF THE LIGAMENTS. 4-81 



the plan recommended by White, of administering 

 it by means of a woollen cloth or rug steeped, and 

 loosely wrung out, being followed. A fresh sheep- 

 skin, just flayed, was applied immediately, and the 

 lameness sensibly lessened, after the third day, and 

 applying the fomentation twice a day. 



6. Strain of the Back-Sinew and Ligaments. 



Cause. — Back-smew is the vulgar name for the 

 tendon which the reader will find depicted in the 

 section of a foot at page 443, and marked (k). It 

 ascends behind the small pastern (/) and large pas- 

 tern, up to the knee-bend of the fore-leg, and to 

 the hock-joint of the hinder one, respectively. In 

 plated, fig. 1, (at a), this sinew is again shown, 

 where it emerges out of the heel, and enters its 

 sheath (b), to which it is attached in a certain de- 

 gree, by means of a membranous process adhering 

 from side to side, and capable of distension or re- 

 laxation. The sheath itself is attached to the two 

 pasterns, of which it thus becomes the tendon or 

 support ; whence the back sinew and its sheath, 

 or flexor, together obtain the plural — tendons. 

 Within the sheath is secreted a milky fluid, in- 

 tended for lubricating and defending the parts dur- 

 ing the very great action to which they are liable in 

 every effort of progression. As happens in all 

 other secretions, this one sometimes fails to produce 

 enough for the intended purpose, when the sinew 

 and its sheath adhere together, or at least do not 

 act with freedom ; the consequence whereof is lame- 



