60 SPRAINS. 



The flexor braohii, being a hard tendinous muscle, is apt, after 

 having been sprained, to become turned, more or less, into bone, 

 and to lose its power of contraction ; hence the gravity of a sprain 

 of this muscle. 



Sprain of the capsular ligament is a most serious accident ; as it 

 may lead to a stiffening of the shoulder joint. 



As a rule, when taken in time and properly treated, sprain of 

 the shoulder is an injury which does not materially impair the 

 value of the animal. 



The shoulder, though often accused of being so, is rarely the seat 

 of lameness. 



TREATMENT.- — Cure of these affections depends entirely upon 

 its being attempted early, that is, before organic change has taken 

 place ; the best treatment being rest with a; high-heeled shoe (Fig. 

 4, p. 27) on the foot of the affected limb, massage (p. 675) and 

 passive exercise. Many authorities recommend fomentations fol- 

 lowed by repeated blisters, in order to determine an increased and 

 continued supply of blood to the part for the repair of the injury. 

 After recovery, the particular kind of work which induced the 

 disease, should be discontinued if possible. 



Sprains of the Elbow and Hip. 



These rare accidents may be distinguished by the presence of 

 lameness, with local heat, pain, and swelling ; and by the absence 

 of symptoms of disease in other parts. In elbow lameness, the 

 horse shows great unwillingness to put weight on the limb ; for the 

 action of the muscles attached to the elbow is to straighten the 

 elbow joint and thus to maintain the stability of the leg on the 

 ground. 



The " round-bone " — the hip joint — although very seldom affected, 

 is a favourite spot to which grooms ascribe disease when the horse 

 goes lame behind. The hock , is the usual seat of lameness in the 

 hind limb. 



TREATMENT. — The treatment is similar to that recommended 

 foi; shoulder sprain. 



Sprained Back. 



The chief varieties of this accident are : (1) Sprain of the liga- 

 ments which connect the vertebrae of the loins and back together ; 

 (2) sprain of the "under-cut muscles " (similar to those of a sirloin 

 of beef, or saddle of mutton) ; and (3) sprain of the large muscle 

 (ilio-spinalis) which runs along the loins and back on each side of 



