390 HORSE AILMENTS AND HOW TO DOCTOR THEM. 



Treatment. Give absolute rest in all cases. If the lame- 

 ness proceeds from a strain only, then bathe with warm water 

 and apply with friction Dimon's Spavin Cure, as recommended 

 for all strains ; but if the lameness is caused by a dislocation of 

 the stifle or patella, then, if in winter, give a roomy box stall 

 kept clean, and have a stifle shoe made and tacked on to pre- 

 vent the bone from sliding out of place and knuckling at every 

 step. If in mild weather turn out in a level lot or paddock 

 with shoe, as above. 



STRINGHALT. 



This is a peculiar twitching up of one or both of the hind 

 feet when the horse is in motion. It is caused by a derange- 

 ment of the nerves supplying the muscles which produce it. 



Youatt does not regard stringhalt as unsoundness, but I do ; 

 still, this ailment does not materially injure the usefulness of 

 the animal affected. 



Treatment. All that can be done for this malady is to re- 

 store in a measure the lost influence of the nerves of the mus- 

 cles of the thigh. This may be best accomplished by rest, good 

 feeding, and care ; also give one grain of strychnia nux vomica 

 in the food daily for six weeks. In addition to this give thirty 

 drops of Fowler's Solution of arsenic in a bucket of drinking 

 water every other day for some length of time. 



In 1872 I cured a valuable mare of a severe case of this eye- 

 sore (of a recent occurrence, however) with much the same 

 treatment as above. 



SWEENEY. 



Sweeney is an infection of the muscles of the outside of the 

 shoulder. It is a very common disease in the Western States. 

 It is characterized by the shrinking of the shoulders, accom- 

 panied by lameness. It is atrophy, or the wasting away of the 

 muscles. 



Treatment. Fill a small sack with cayenne pepper and salt. 

 Dip the sack in water and rub the affected parts quickly and 

 vigorously, up and down the shoulder ; then apply Dimon's 



