lameness: its causes and treatment. 375 



lameness of a permanent character. At a later period, however, the 

 swelling will become better defined, the deformity more characteris- 

 tic, the prominent, curved line readily detected, and the thickness of 

 the infiltrated tissue easily determined by the fingers. At this time, 

 also, there may be a condition of lameness, varying in degree, while 

 at others, again, the irregularity of action at the hock will be so slight 

 as to escape detection, the animal betraying no appearance of its 

 existence. 



A curb constitutes, by a strict construction of the term, an " un- 

 soundness," since the hock thus affected is less able to endure severe 

 labor, and is more liable to give way with the slightest effort. Yet 

 the prognosis of a curb can not be considered to be serious, as it 

 generally yields to treatment, or at least the lameness it may occasion 

 is generally easily relieved, though the loss of contour caused by the 

 bulging will always constitute a blemish. 



TreatTTvent. — On the first appearance of a curb, when it exhibits 

 the signs of an acute inflammation, the first indication is to subdue 

 it by the use of cold applications, as intermittent or constant irriga- 

 tion or an ice poultice; when these have exhausted their effect and 

 the swelling has assumed better defined boundaries, and the infil- 

 tration of the tendons or of the ligaments is all that remains of a 

 morbid state, then every effort must be directed to the object of effect- 

 ing its absorption and reducing its dimensions by pressure and other 

 methods. The medicaments most to be trusted are blisters of can- 

 tharides and frictions with ointments of iodin, or, preferably, 

 biniodid of mercury. Mercurial agents alone, by their therapeutic 

 properties or by means of the artificial bandages which they furnish 

 by their incrustations when their vesicatory effects are exhausted, 

 will give good results in some instances by a single application, and 

 often by repeated applications. The use of the firing iron must, 

 however, be frequently resorted to, either to remove the lameness or 

 to stimulate the absorption. We believe that its early application 

 ought to be resorted to in preference to waiting until the exudation 

 is firmly organized. Firing in dull points or in lines will prove as 

 beneficial in curb as in any other disease of a similar nature. 



LACERATED TENDONS. 



This form of injury, whether of a simple or of a compound char- 

 ticter, may become a lesion of a very serious nature, and will usually 

 require long and careful treatment, which may yet prove unavailing 

 in consequence either of the intrinsically fatal character of the wound 

 itself or the complications which have rendered it incurable. 



Cause. — Like all similar injuries, they are the result of traumatic 

 violence, such as contact with objects either blunt or sharp ; a curb- 

 stone in the city ; in the country, a tree stump or a fence, especially 



