AS TO SOUNDNESS. 31 
himself, the horse went home all right, but next morning 
he was lame—stiff on that shoulder. Here, no doubt, 
was a sprain, followed by partial disuse of the parts, 
and consequent atrophy. The horse was treated by 
rest, hot fomentations, physic, counter irritation, etc., 
and when brought home some weeks after, the shoulder, - 
much less than its fellow, showed symptoms of having 
been well blistered; so that inflammatory action had 
ceased. I recommended the owner to have the cold-. 
water hose turned on to the animal’s shoulder for three 
minutes night and morning, the part to be afterwards 
rubbed till it was not only dry but hot, and the horse 
to be allowed to run in a small paddock during the day. 
In a few weeks he was quite well. 
Please to note the difference between these cases, 
through enforced idleness of the muscles from the pain 
of inflammation of a part of the shoulder, and those 
which arise from exhaustion, and consequent innervation 
of the whole muscle from prolonged exertion. In the 
former case, we have a very curable condition, but not 
so in the latter. Again, should the atrophy be due to 
enforced rest of the muscles from disease in the shoulder- 
joint, it is not likely to be overlooked by you; inasmuch 
as you have two distinct evidences of it, in the diminished 
\ Size of the parts, and the lameness, which is always pro- 
nounced. The point of the shoulder should claim your 
attention. Marks of setons, blistering, or firing, are not 
unfrequently to be found. Should the horse bea valu- 
able one, and he be at the same time sound, so far as 
