THE HORSE—THE EXTREMITIES. 163 
TREATMENT.—Foment and apply arnica-lotion, following up with 
rhus-lotion night and morning. If the swelling is not thus removed, a sur- 
geon should pass a seton through it; or make an opening with a small 
trocar, remove the fluid, and then inject a lotion of calendula and water, one 
part of the tincture of calendula to four of water. Keep the horse tied up. 
In a day or two, should the fluid again collect, the surgeon may probe the 
swelling and apply a lotion of calendula to ward off fistulous results. If 
there be considerable inflammation, foment often with warm water. 
SPRAIN OF THE STIFLE-JOINT. 
Such sprain-is uncommon, but its symptoms are plain, being a swelling 
at the joint, so near the surface that it is easily felt; pain on pressure; heat; 
unwillingness to move the hind leg, which is dragged along in trotting. 
TREATMENT.—Apply fomentations of warm water often and rub in 
arnica-lotion night and morning. After the subsidence of inflammation 
leave off the fomentations and rub in camphorated ammoniacal soap 
liniment until a mild blistering occurs, and a cure will result after a few days 
of rest. The formula for the liniment is given under general Sprains. 
SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK-JOINTS. 
Sprain of the fetlock-joints is sometimes located in the ligaments of the 
joints, but more commonly in the tendons behind and in front of the 
joint. Thesymptoms are swelling; lameness; heat; tenderness on pressure. 
TREATMENT.—Bandage the swelling and keep up warm-water fomen- 
tations, followed by cold water. After inflammation subsides put on a 
chamois-skin bandage saturated twice a day with one part of rhus to eight 
of water. For other expedients, see general Sprains. 
BREAKING-DOWN. 
Breaking down is an actual rupture of the ligaments in the back part 
of the leg, above or below the fetlock. Any sprain of the back tendons 
receives the same name. While running the horse suddenly stops, bends the 
leg and rests it either on the fetlock (in real rupture) or on the toe (in 
sprains). 
Symptoms.—In ordinary sprain, as stated above, the toe rests on the 
ground after the horse has suddenly stopped on a run, or the leg is held off 
the ground. In rupture of the ligament, the fetlock yields, and in extreme 
cases the leg rests on the heel and fetlock, the toe turned upward off the 
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