28 SPEAINS. 



reparative action has apparently ceased, say, not sooner than two 

 months after the accident. If any heat remains, the part should 

 be cooled down by cold applications before using the firimg iron. 



After the part has recovered from the injury, the owner can 

 exercise his own judgment, as far as circumstances admit, in 

 bringing the horse on. to work again, givirg corn, using bandages, 

 etc. This subject will be referred to more fully on pages ii et seq. 



It is important to remember that the gravity of a sprain is 

 largely dependent on the conformation of the leg; the stronger 

 a part is naturally, the more likely it is to recover. 



On the Continent, sprains (for insta^.ce, of the shoulder and back 

 tendons) have been successfully treated by subcutaneous injections 

 (p. 644) of from 1 to 1^ drachms of oil of turpentine. This sets 

 up intense inflammation in the part, but the heat and swelling 

 usually begin to subside in about a week. 



Sprain of the Suspensory liigament. 



ANATOilY OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT.— The suspensory 

 ligament (Figs. 5 and 6) is a strong and practically inelastic fibrous cord 

 which lies at the back of, and close to, the cannon bone. It originates at 

 the head of the cannon bone and at the lower row of the small bones of the 

 knee (Fig. 8). It runs down the groove formed by the two splint bones, for 

 about two-thirds of the length of the cannon bone, then divides into two 

 branches, which become attached to the summits of the sesamoid bones 

 — that lie at the back of the fetlock joint (Fig. 9) — and extend downwards 

 and forwards. These branches unite in front of and at about the middle 

 of the pastern, and become attached to the tendon of the muscle which 

 extends the foot (Fig. 7). 



The presence of muscular fibres in the suspensory ligament points to the 

 fact of its possessing a certain, though probably very slight, amount of 

 elasticity. The suspensory ligament acts as a powerful brace for preventing 

 the fetlock from coming down too near the ground. 



THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT IN HEALTH.— On taking a 

 side-view of a " clean " leg of a horse (vide Frontispiece), the 

 suspensory ligament should be seen rising just above the fetlock 

 joint, between the cannon bone and back tendons, and extending 

 nearly two-thirds of the way up to the knee. Closely covered 

 with skin, it should stand clear and well-defined between bone 

 and tendon, as if cast in a mould, the leg, from knee to fetlock, 

 having a fluted appearance. When there is difficulty in marking 

 the course of this ligament with the eye or hand, according as the 

 leg is free from long hair, or " well feathered," the capability of 

 the leg for standing continuous fast work may be doubted. 



When the suspensory ligament is in a sound condition, if our 

 hand is run over it, while the foot is on the ground, it will feel 



