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acute inflammation, the first indication is to subdue this by the use of 

 warm fomentations or other topical applications. But when these have 

 exhausted their effect and the swelling has assumed better defined 

 boundaries, and the infiltration of the tendons or of the ligaments is 

 all that remains of a morbid state, then every effort must be directed 

 to the object of effecting' its absorption and reducing its dimensions by 

 pressure and other methods. The medicaments most to be trusted are 

 blisters of cantharides and frictions with ointments of iodine, or, pref- 

 erably, biniodide of mercury. Mercurial agents alone, by their thera- 

 peutic properties, or by means of the artificial bandages which they 

 furnish by their incrustations when their vesicatory effects are ex- 

 hausted, will give good results in some instances by a single applica- 

 tion, and often by repeated applications. The use of the firing iron 

 must, however, be frequently resorted to, either to remove the lameness 

 or to stimulate the exudation. We believe that its early application 

 ought to be resorted to in preference to waiting until the exudation is 

 firmly organized. Deep and fine needle firing will prove as beneficial 

 in curb as in any other disease of a similar nature. 



Lacerated tendons. — This form of injury, whether of a simi^le or of a 

 compound character, may become a lesion of a very serious nature, 

 and will usually require long and careful treatment, which may yet 

 prove unavailing in consequence either of the intrinsically fatal char- 

 acter of the wound itself or the complications which have rendered it 

 incurable. 



Like all similar injuries, these are the result of traumatic violence, 

 such as contact with objects both blunt and sharp ; a curbstone in the 

 city J in the country a tree stump or a fence, especially one of wire. 

 It may easily occur to a runaway horse when he is "whipped" with 

 fragments of harness or " flogged " by fragments of splintered shafts 

 " thrashing" his legs, or by the contact of his legs with the wagon he 

 has overturned and shattered with his heels while disengaging himself 

 from its wreck. 



It is not always necessary that the skin should be involved in this 

 form of injury. On the contrary the tegument is frequently left entirely 

 intact, or exhibits only some slight and superficial abrasions. Yet, 

 again, the skin may 'be cut through and the tendons nearly severed. 

 A point a little above the fetlock is usually the seat of the injury. But 

 irrespective of this, and whether the skin is or is not implicated, the 

 symptoms very much resemble those of a fracture. There is excessive 

 mobility, at least more than in a normal state, with more or less inabil- 

 ity to carry weight; there may be swelling of the parts, and on passing 

 the hands carefully along the tendon to the point of division the stumps 

 of the divided structure will be felt more or less separated^ perhaps 

 wholly divided. The position of the animal while at rest and standing 

 is peculiar aud characteristic. While the heels are well placed on the 

 ground, the toe is correspondingly elevated with a disposition to turn 



