CHa PTER 1¥. 
SPRAINS. 
General remarks on the Nature and Treatment of Sprains. Sprain of the 
Suspensory and Check Ligaments. Curb. Sprained Back. Sprain of 
Fetlock and Hock, Sprung Hock. Sprain of the’ Shoulder and 
Elbow Joints. 
GENERAL REMARKS ON THE NATURE AND TREATMENT 
OF SPRAINS. 
In dealing with the important subject of sprains, we shall adopt the same 
method as.the one we followed in treating of wounds; firstly, speaking of 
sprains and their treatment generally, and then turning our attention to the 
' elucidation of the. nature and therapeutic measures, necessary for the 
treatment of these unfortunately common injuries. No doubt our readers 
are aware that the muscles, tendons, and ligaments are the structures which 
under certain circumstances may be “sprained” or “strained.” The 
muscles are endowed with contractile power, and by means of this, the 
bodily movements are executed. Had we space at our disposal, we might 
enter shortly into a consideration of the microscopical features and 
physiological properties of muscle, for these are of extraordinary interest. 
For the most part the voluntary muscles of the body act as sources of 
' power, for moving the various bones, to which the muscles are attached. A 
tendon is chiefly composed of a bundle of white fibres intermingled with 
‘. cells. It is attached to the muscle by one extremity, and narrowing into a 
firm, Strong cord, is securely united to the bone by the other. The ligaments 
are tissues, the purpose of which is to bind together the structures, entering 
into the formation of the joints, thus rendering the union more firm. 
By a sprain we understand an overstretching or rupture of some of the 
elements of a muscle, tendon, or ligament, dependent upon sudden or 
continuous strain of the tissues. Asa rule, sprain of a muscle more quickly 
‘disappears under rest and proper treatment, than a like injury to a tendon or 
ligament. As one might naturally expect, sprains are most commonly met 
with in the fore feet of horses, more especially in animals used for 
continuous and rapid work on hard ground, 
