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DISEASES OF THE SHOULDER-JOINT. 
Symptoms. Inflammatory disease of the shoulder-joint is recognised 
by sudden lameness, when lifting the leg, by the limb being abducted, 
and by the animal being unwilling to place weight on the foot. The 
forward stride is shortened, the movement of the limb is slow, the back¬ 
ward movement impaired, so that the hoof is dragged along the ground. 
Inflammatory swelling, accompanied by increased warmth and pain, 
appears about the shoulder. Diagnosis is often doubtful, and the 
disease then falls under the category of shoulder lameness (see 
“ Shoulder Lameness ”). 
Prognosis and course. The degree and extent of the injuries 
associated with distortion being very varied, prognosis is equally 
uncertain. It must, therefore, be principally guided by the degree 
of lameness and the character of the local symptoms, as well as by 
the time during which these have existed. If pain is slight, complete 
recovery may occur in three to four weeks; gradual improvement 
during this time points to a favourable issue. On the other hand, 
chronic arthritis may sometimes cause lasting and incurable lameness, 
The more severe the lameness, and the longer it has existed, the less 
favourable the prognosis ; marked atrophy of the shoulder muscles is, 
therefore, an exceedingly grave symptom. 
Treatment. Complete rest must always be the first measure. Cold 
applications, irrigation, or poulticing combat inflammation. At a later 
stage irritants, blisters, and setons can be employed. The subcutaneous 
injection of atropine and morphine has been recommended by some but 
condemned by others. It might be worth trying. 
(c) Wounding and Inflammation of the Shoulder-Joint (Omarthritis). 
On account of its sheltered position, the shoulder-joint is seldom 
wounded. Bomant describes a torn wound of the joint in a mule, in 
which perfect recovery followed the employment of sublimate solu¬ 
tions. As a general rule, these injuries call for cautious prognosis and 
treatment. 
Spontaneous inflammation of the shoulder-joint is seen in oxen and 
dogs under the form of rheumatic arthritis ; in foals, calves, and lambs, 
as a complication of so-called navel-ill. The shoulder-joint is, however, 
not particularly prone to this disease. The knee and hock are much 
more frequently attacked. 
That form of omarthritis recurring during septicaemia cannot here be 
referred to. Abscesses in the neighbourhood of the joint seldom break 
into its cavity. 
Chronic omarthritis may either be a sequel of distortion and luxation, 
or be of rheumatic origin. Williams gives two illustrations of chronic 
omarthritis in horses, showing the edge of the joint covered with 
