266 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



unnatural direction ; or, if in a natural direction, beyond the power of 

 the ligament or tendon to restrain it properly, so that part of the fibers 

 of either are ruptured. When such an accident occurs pain is imme- 

 diately inflicted, varying in degree with the extent of the injury, which 

 is soon followed by swelling, with more or less heat and tenderness. 

 If the seat of the injury be in any of the limbs, lameness is likely to 

 result. Of the causes of sprain, slipping on ice or a wet floor, play- 

 ing, or fighting with another animal are the most common. 



SPRAIN OF THE SHOULDER JOINT. 



This is likely to occur from any of the causes mentioned above or 

 from the animal slipping suddenly into a rut or hole. When such an 

 accident occurs, sudden lameness will attract attention. The animal 

 will be noticed to drag the leg when walking and to carry it in a cir- 

 cular direction, outward and forward, at each step. The leg should 

 be carefully examined, pressure over the joint causing the animal to 

 evince pain. If the person making the examination is in doubt, it is 

 well to make a comparison between the shoulders by pressing first on 

 one and then the other. After such an accident the animal should be 

 tied up so as to limit so far as possible the use of the injured joint. 

 Soft food should be given with a view to keeping the bowels acting 

 freely. 



Treatment. — During the first three days the treatment should con- 

 sist of cold-water irrigation to check the inflammation and relieve the 

 pain. Hot fomentations may then be applied to hasten the absorption 

 of the inflammatory fluids. When the pain has somewhat abated, 

 equal parts of mercurial ointmeut and green soap may be rubbed into 

 the swollen tissue. Should lameness continue after the tenth day, 

 good results will be obtained from the application of a blister. This 

 may be done by carefully clipping the hair off over the joint, includ- 

 ing a surface of 4 or 5 inches in circumference, and rubbing in the 

 following preparation : 



Powdered cantharides dram... 1 



Biniodide of mercury do 1 



Vaseline ounce.. 1 



The animal's head should be carefully tied until the third day to 

 prevent its licking the blister. The blistered surface should then be 

 smeared with lard or vaseline every other day until the scabs fall off. 

 Gentle exercise should be allowed after the fourth or fifth day from 

 the application of the blister. If the lameness still remains the blister 

 may be repeated in three weeks or a month." 



SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK. 



This may occur from misstep when the animal is moving rapidly, 

 and the twisting or wrenching of the foot is sufficient to rupture par- 

 tially the ligaments which bind the bones together at that part. Such 

 an accident also frequently occurs by the foot becoming fastened in 



