SPRAINS, 403 
Bourrel, are good; they require watching : kept on too long, they may 
bring on sloughs of the skin. 
Of late years massage and elastic compression are recommended. 
The excellent results obtained in man by massage are well known. 
Choregraphy, specially, has been of great service in the treatment of 
spavins. But few years elapse without its doing wonders for some 
celebrated dancer. Forgue and Reclus mention the case of the “ star” 
of the ballet of the Opera, who sprained her leg; treated by massage, 
she was cured in two days.’ “In animals; the recovery by massage is. 
not so rapid; until nowit has been but little used on account of their 
restlessness, the thickness of the skin, the abundancé of the hair. It is. 
made as we stated in the chapter on “Inflammation”: the hands. 
smeared with vaseline or glycerine, apply; in the direction of the venous. 
current, rubbings, slight at first, then more and more’ heavy as the 
soreness subsides. These manipulations are continued for five or ten 
minutes; the clots of blood are crushed, the cedema is spread or easily 
resolved ; the swelling of the joint soon diminishes. The lower articu- 
lations of legs lend themselves well to those manipulations; but the 
shoulder or the thigh cannot be massaged so easily on account of the 
muscles that cover them. When the rubbing is to be made against 
the direction of the hair, mcderate massage will be performed by the 
application of a sheet of parchment over the region. 
Elastic pressure has also for effect to spread through the conjunctive 
tissues the‘exudated morbid products. With it is sometimes associated 
refrigeration: the diseased region is envelopéd'with oakum, an ‘elastic 
roller put over it, and then continued irrigation is applied: nee 
Chronic sprains must be treated by stimulating frictions, blisters, firing, 
setons, irritating injections. Spirits of turpentine, ammonia, sin dMiacal 
liniment, are often used, specially with cattle. If the blister is not 
applied by the veterinarian, he must be careful in marking with scissors. 
the surface which is to be blistered. ‘To neglect this simple precaution, 
is to expose one’s self to have the blister improperly applied, and on parts. 
which do not need it. With lasting lesions (indurations, periostosis),. 
firing in lines, superficial or fine points are resorted to. 
--With some sprains—those of the shoulder or the’ hip specially— 
. Setons count yet numerous advocates; their’ beneficial action is princi- 
pally due to the immobilization they induce. Against muscular atro-. 
phies irritating injections are useful, spirits of turpentine, watery: 
saturated solution of salt, alcoholic solution of veratrine. 
In general, we treat sprains at the beginning by immovable bandages, 
pressure assisted with refrigeration, hot moisture or blisters. ‘After 
' Forgue and Reclus: Thérapeutique Chirurgicale, Vol. 1, p. 50. 
