302 CLAP OF THE BACK SINEWS. 
CLAP OF THE BACK SINEWS. 
When the accident is more severe, and the sprain more decided, it is 
spoken of as “clap of the back sinews;” this is a serious affair. The 
usual fate of the wretched animal thus maimed is to be sold to the 
highest bidder. It passes from a carefully-tended stable to some wretched 
out-shed; and its new master is made happy, if the crippled horse can 
only limp, and somehow get through a day’s labor. No pity is wasted 
upon agony; “the beast,” as it is now called, has to live worse, work 
harder, and drag out a miserable existence with the heavy burden of an 
almost useless limb. 
Clap of the back sinews results from exertion; it may be the work of 
an instant. The horse sometimes is pulled up, or, 
in severe cases, it falls. If it be pulled up, it refuses 
to move at a quicker pace than a hobble, and stands 
still again so soon as whip or spur are not applied 
to the sufferer’s body. The maimed limb is flexed, 
and rests upon the toe of the injured leg. There 
can be no mistake now about the seat of lameness; 
the foot of the affected limb will hardly be put to 
the ground. The seat of the malady is soon de- 
clared. In a short space a tumor displays itself; it 
aE EARLIEST syuproy or 18 Small, hot, tender, and soft, in the first instance, 
ee ee ee though it soon enlarges, and grows very hard. The 
OF THE TENDON. animal does not exhibit much constitutional distress, 
for it requires excessive pain to call forth such a dis- 
play in the patient and most enduring horse. 
Physic is necessary in this case; a gentle blood-letting, 
even, may be required, followed by a few doses of febrifuge 
medicine; but the treatment should be carried no further 
than is necessary to reduce the pulse to fifty-five degrees. 
The leg should be wrapped in a stout linen bandage; day 
and night the part should be saturated with the coldest 
possible water until the primary symptoms have abated. 
Cut grass should be the food while any fever rages, but no 
longer, for the wish is not to destroy the powers of repara- 
tion by weakening the body. The cold water should be 
continued till recovery appears confirmed; but it will be 
many months before the horse, thus disabled, will again be 
“ierr br car fit for full or energetic work. Commonly, however, this 
anew. accident takes place in the hunting-field ; and sportsmen, 
