180 
The primary essential of treatment in all cases of sprain is rest, both 
constitutional and local. The animal should be placed in a comfortable 
box, and a mild dose of physic should be given. Three or four drachms of 
aloes will prove of great value, in abating the inflammatory action of the 
injured tissues. The diet should be cooling and laxative; mashes, oilcake 
gruel, grass, and carrots, taking the place of corn and hay. In those 
instances where a severe sprain of a fore limb has been sustained, a shoe 
with high calkins sometimes appears to be beneficial, in affording rest to the 
structures at the back of the leg. Slings are seldom necessary, excepting in 
cases of severe sprain of the hind limbs, or rupture of the suspensory” 
ligament, if the animal will not lie down. ; 
In the case of a sudden sprain, it is our custom to see that the injured 
part be assiduously fomented with water at about 100° F., for an hour or two, 
several times daily. After each fomentation, a flannel bandage soaked in a 
lotion made of tincture of opium one ounce, tincture of arnica one ounce, 
water twelve ounces, may be applied, and again readjusted after each 
fomentation. When the animal begins to recover, as will probably be the 
case in a few days, it is our custom to apply a cooling lotion of spirit and 
acetate of lead, or lotion of chloride of ammonium and nitrate of potassium, 
the formule for which we have given in a previous article. Internally, one 
ounce of bicarbonate of potassium, may be given in the water once daily, for 
several days. Some practitioners recommend the application of cooling 
lotions from the outset ; and probably this treatment, when judiciously carried 
out, may be as effectual as the one we have described above. A favourite 
method, instead of applying cooling lotions, is that of directing a jet of cold 
water on to the affected parts, for ten or twenty minutes at atime. In those 
instances in which the animal has sustained several sprains previously, and 
has weak legs in consequence, this method of treatment is especially 
useful. 
In the treatment of recent sprains, exercise, we may add, should be 
strictly prohibited until all pain, heat, lameness, and swelling have abated. 
In order to promote absorption of the effusion, hand-rubbing, and pressure 
by means of an elastic bandage, uniformly and carefully, but not too tightly 
applied, will prove useful. When the animal commences work again, it is. 
advisable to continue the hand-rubbing, should any fulness appear in. 
consequence. 
Having now concluded our general remarks, we may proceed to 
consider in detail the nature and treatment of the various special kinds of 
sprain. 
SPRAINS OF THE SUSPENSORY AND CHECK 
LIGAMENTS. 
THE suspensory ligament of the fetlock is a long and powerful brace, 
composed of fibrous tissue, and often containing bundles of fleshy fibres im 
its texture.—(Chauveau.) It is situated behind the canon bone, and between 
