SPRAINS, 499 
is the starting-point of spavin, jarde, or curb. This indicates that the 
prognosis varies according to the seat of the lesions ; but, in a general. 
way, it is serious. 
At the onset, the treatment consists in rest, massage and douches, 
revulsive or blistering frictions. Later, if the trouble resists, cauteriza- 
tion is indicated. The treatment of rebel tarsal sprain is the same as 
that of spavin, jarde or curb. 
N 
VI.— Sprain of the Fetlock. 
This is one of the most frequent sprains. The metacarpo or meta- 
tarso-phalangeal joint belongs to the class of the ginglymus, permitting 
only flexion and extension; when it is flexed, it is scarcely possible to 
move it sideways. Any power able to give to that joint exaggerated 
movements of extension or flexion or likely to produce in it displacements 
incompatible with its structure, may produce a sprain. According to 
the localization of the lesions, sprains are divided into anterior, posterior, 
lateral external and lateral internal. 
The anterior takes place ordinarily when the weight of the body is 
thrown on the joint flexed (as occurs frequently when the foot slips 
backward). On examining the leg, either raised or resting, a more or 
less marked sensibility of the anterior face of the fetlock and of the 
superior part of the pastern is detected, with also a slight swelling of 
those regions. The fosterior sprain, due to violent and repeated 
efforts of locomotion, is characterized by alterations of the ligaments— 
tendinous apparatus of the posterior face. The /afera/ sprains have 
for principal causes mis-steps, slidings inwards or outwards. 
Wherever is the seat of the lesions, the local phenomena, especially 
the pain and tumefaction, indicate the trouble. Numerous and varied. 
treatments have been proposed against it. Solleysel surrounded the joint, 
for two or three days, with compresses moistened with solution of sul- 
phate of zinc; he preceded those with some frictions of alcohol or tur- 
pentine, and then applied his “ emmiellure” (honey paste) with oakum. 
androllers. Other practitioners employed blisters. During the first part 
of this century, local bleedings, leeches, emollient poultices, populeum 
ointment, camphotated oil, and those of opium, belladonna, the friction 
with camphorated alcohol, white lotion, etc., were recommended. If 
these means have answered in many cases, they are powerless against 
_ sprains of some severity. “Continued irrigation may give good results ; 
to-day it is often used’ at the beginning of the disease. Compresses. 
round the fetlock, frequently sprirkled with cold water, are excellent 
for mild cases. 
