SPRAIN OF THE BACK TENDONS. 



549 



wisely dispensed -with, and in my opinion is altogether unnecessary. 

 The bowels must be freely opened, and kept open by laxative 

 and easily digested food, such as bran mash, linseed tea, roots, etc. 

 The continued application of heat or cold to the parts aids greatly 

 in checking the inflammatory action. If pain- and swelling are ex- 

 cessive, hot fomentations continued for an hour or two, alternated 

 with cold water, will be found to give most relief. (For particulars 

 in fomenting, see " Fomentation.") Gentle and equable pressure, 

 by means of a judiciously applied bandage, is very beneficial in 

 sprains of the leg. , 



Rest must be given from the first, and the pa- 

 tient must be turned into a loose box. Having 

 by these means succeeded in subduing the in- 

 flammation, one or two applications of an absorb- 

 ing blister will generally remove any enlargement 

 that may remain. Should the thickening and 

 lameness prove obstinate, the firing-iron may be 

 resorted to. (For an explanation of the method 

 of using this, see " Firing in Spavins.") 



Sprain of the Back Tendons. 



Should a horse, when traveling or running 

 with much force, step on a hub or stone in a way 

 to bring an uneven strain upon one or more of 

 the ligaments or tendons of a limb, there lis lia- 

 ble to be caused such a severe strain as to re- 

 sult in serious lameness and injury, which, if 

 neglected or not treated properly, often) leads 

 to permanent lameness and injury of the horse- 

 This is especially common in sprain of the 

 back tendons. 



The principal seat of strain in the fore 

 limb is in the tendons' at the back part 

 of the leg, usually called sprain of the 

 back tendons, or back sinews. As 

 these tendons (flexor . perforans and 

 perforatus) are the chief agents in pro- 

 ducing the motions of the limbs, act- 

 ing like levers over the pulley-like 

 surfaces on the ends of the bones in 

 their passage down to the foot, they are 1 consequently very Ha 

 ble to be overstretched and strained, sometimes in a very slight de 



Fig. 854.— Ths Leg with Skin Removed, 

 Showing Arteries. See Plates 

 in Part on Shoeing. > 



