312 The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



DISEASES OF MUSCLES. 

 EUPTUEE OF MUSCLES. 



The red flesli is rarely torn in life and never by volun- 

 tary contraction. Tliough torn across with ease after 

 death it will resist much more during life than the white 

 fibrous cord by which it is attached to the bones. Mus- 

 cles are usually torn by some extreme involuntary con- 

 traction, as ill recovering from a wrong step or shp, or in 

 the extreme contractions of lock-jaw. Kupture is rec- 

 ognized by the sudden pain and inability to use the mus- 

 cle, and, if it is superficial, by tenderness, by a depression 

 in the seat of the tear, and a bulging of the muscle above 

 and below it. Later the depression may be fiUed by a 

 soft compressible clot. 



Treatment consists in the approximation of the divided 

 ends by such a position as will relax the muscle and by a 

 tight bandage from the foot up if it be in a limb. 



INELAMMATION OF MUSCLE. 



This is usually the result of rheumatism but may arise 

 fiom continued use or from local injury. It is manifested 

 by swelling and extreme tenderness of the muscle in ques- 

 tion, with loss of contractile power. If rheumatic it has 

 the further characteristic of shifting from place to place. 

 It may result in abscess, or thickening of the fibrous in- 

 vesting membrane, or in calcareous, granular or fatty de- 

 generation. It must be treated by rest, with soothing lo- 

 cal treatment like any ordinary inflammation, and matter 

 may be evacuated with knife or lancet, but the degenera- 

 tions may be looked upon as permanent. 



Fatty degeneration is common in overfed animals, above 

 all in those bred for early maturity and great aptitude to 

 fatten (improved cattle, sheep and pigs,) and is quite irre- 

 mediable. It may also arise from paralysis, the result of 

 injuries to the nerves as in roaring. 



EUPTUEE OF TENDONS. SECTION OF TENDONS. 



These are not uncommon in horses during severe ex- 



