AND HIS DISEASES. 43 



evenness of the line which characterises the tendons. If the 

 perforans, it is felt between the ligament and the perforatus ; 

 and if the metacarpal ligament, as is most generally the case, 

 it can be felt between the bone and the tendon. 



Treatment. — The animal must be turned into a loose-box, 

 the swollen limb must be well fomented with hot water, if the 

 injury is severe ; cold may be preferable, if slight. This must 

 be kept up for more than,an hour, when the following cooling 

 lotion may be well rubbed in, and a thick woollen bandage ap- 

 plied, well saturated with it, and kept wet with cold water : — 



COOLING LOTION. ^^\^ 



Nitre (saltpetre), ... 2 ounces. 



Sal-ammoniac, .... 2 ounces. 



Common salt, ' . . . . 4. ounces. 



Spring water, . ... . 1 pint. 



In all cases of severe sprain, a purgative should be given ; it 

 reduces the fever, and acts as a counter-irritant. 



Having in this way reduced the inflammation, if the 

 swelling still remains, it should be blistered. The biniodide 

 of mercury ointment is best in these cases, and should be 

 repeated : — 



BINIODIDE OF. MERCURY OINTMENT. 



Biniodide of mercury, . . IJ drachms. 

 Lard, 1 ounce. 



A run at pasture will generally complete the cure. Some- 

 times, by repeated sprains, the tendons become considerably 

 thickened, in which case firing is preferable. , 



Sometimes, from repeated sprains, the tendons become 

 contracted, causing the animal to go on his toe ; in these 

 cases the operation of tenotomy, or cutting the tendons, is 

 advisable. . 



