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When the progression of the animal is not affected by the presence of 
the curb, even though he be employed for constant work, he is practically 
sound. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that lameness may result. at 
any time, if the animal be worked hard, more especially on irregular ground, 
or be regularly run in the chase. This is still more likely to be the case 
with young animals, and we may mention that curb in a young horse is 
always to be regarded with suspicion, and as constituting inefficiency or 
practical unsoundness. In older animals of six or seven years, the tissues 
may be so far repaired as never to contract sprain again ; but in young ones, 
laxity of the ligamentous tissues and repeated sprain, may be an almost 
continual source of lameness. 
In treating curb, the limb should be put at rest by placing a high-heeled 
shoe on the foot. Although it is a common custom to apply blisters 
immediately after a horse has “sprung” a curb, this practice must be 
strongly condemned. We have seen so much permanent damage done by 
this means, that we wish to draw the special attention of our readers to the 
harm it so frequently does, in the early stagés. It is the best practice to 
apply cooling applications, until all inflammation has ceased. This may be 
best accomplished by directing a stream of water from a hose on to the 
affected hock, thrice every day. It is well to give the animal a mild dose of 
physic in the first instance, and to feed him upon mashes and warm water 
for three days. When the inflammatory action has ceased, the blistering 
ointment may ¢hen be applied. In very severe cases it is best to fire at 
once, and not to try blistering first. 
SPRAINED BACK. 
SPRAINED back is an injury not very uncommonly met with in the hunting 
field. It is due to sprain of the so-called psoas muscles, contracted in taking 
a fence, but more frequently by what is often termed “slipping up.” An 
animal so injured can stand fairly well, as a rule, though sometimes he is 
unable to regain his feet. Our readers will be aware that, if the back be 
broken, the animal would be absolutely unable to stand, even when raised 
up. In these cases a dose of physic should be given in the first instance, 
and the animal should be fed on laxative diet, such as mashes and oil cake 
gruel. Locally, the sprained parts should be treated by the application of 
warm water fomentations, followed by the use of anodyne lotions of opium 
and arnica, formulze for which we mentioned above. 
SPRAINS OF THE FETLOCK, HOCK, SHOULDER, 
AND ELBOW JOINTS. 
WE may now consider sprain of the many structures, liable to injury in the 
fetlock joint. We need not enter in detail into the distinctive characteristics 
of sprain of the separate structures of the fetlock, but may speak of them 
