B24 DADD'S VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 
ATROPHY, OR WASTING OF MUSCLES IN THE REGION UF 
THE SHOULDER-BLADE, (KNOWN AS SWEENY.) 
Atrophy signifies wasting of muscles, in which diseased parts 
become notabiy smaller than those of the natural, without other 
alteration in texture. The author has had several opportunities 
of examining horses that have died in consequence of disease or 
old age, who, during life, were the subjects of what is known as 
sweeny, and found that the muscles of the shoulder had quite a 
pale appearance, somewhat resembling those of a calf which had 
been bled to death. A condensation or wasting of muscular fiber 
was very apparent; the cellular membrane under the skin had 
almost disappeared, merely by condensation and contraction of the 
skin over the region of the parts, which contraction occurs in con- 
sequence of shrinkage of the muscles beneath the skin, 
A FOUNDERED OR DEAD LAME HORSE. (See p. 236.) 
Causes.—As regards the cause of atrophy, it is a well-known 
fact that inaction of a muscle produces a notable decrease in size, 
The muscles of laboring men decrease in size whenever, from 
choice or necessity, the individual leads a sedentary life. A limb 
kept at rest for any length of time undergoes more or less atrophy 
(wasting). In some cases, the foot diseases, so common, arc of 
that character as to canse the subjects much pain in progression ; 
