Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-08-12
lAMENESS IN ANIMALS.
The Proper Way of Diagnosing and Treat
ing This AffiictiOn.

ing This Addiction.
Lameness is not of itself disease
but sign of it, and it is Il manifesto
ton by one or more of the limbs, of
pain, weakness, inability or impede
ment. 1t is the expression OF pain or
inability, the result of disease, accident
or malformation in the limb or limbs
by which it is manifested. 1t may,
however, arise from disease apart from
the limbs, as in case of liver and spinal
disease. 1t may exist for short time
independent of disease, but if it lasts,
disease is sure to follow. Disease much
oftener exists in a limb without lame
ness than lameness without disease.
We may have mechanical lameness, as
in cases of complete anchylosis, with
out pain, and the same may be said in
case of dislocation of the patella.
Although pain may be said to be the
common cause of lameness, the animal
feels the pain either when it moves the
limb or presses weight upon it. Weak
ness may cause an inability to perform
the function of progression properly.
A horse may be lame from cramp caused
by excess of tonicity of the muscles of
a limb, which renders him for time be-
ing dead lame" 1t is possible to have
great lameness from plugging of the
arteries with fibrinous clot. In those
cases | find the LEG deathly cold and the
animal may start out to all appearances
we'll, but after going a quarter of a mile
will pull up dead lame.
The slow trot is the best gait to dag.
nose lameness at. If the lameness be IN
the fore limb, the head and shoulder
are raised off from the lame one and
dropped onto the sound side. If the
lameness be in the hind limb. the quar-
ter of the same side is elevated, and that
of the sound one thrown we'll forward
and downward by Jerking motion.
A close inspection while standing still
is wise in locating lameness. AS a rule.
avhen horse walks lame he trots very
lame. Some walk sound and trot very
lame, as in case of splint lameness.
Lameness may be caused by a strain
of a Ggament, muscular tissue, ten
dons, fractures, diseased bones. cartil-
age, morbid conditions of the skin,
tumors, plugging of the arteries, acct
dents such as pricks in shooting. treads,
wounds, ulcers, rheumatism, a reflex
nervous action, as in disease of the
liver.
Strains of the muscles are of little
consequence, when compared with
strains of the tendons and ligaments.
Muscles are liable to become deranged
in their functions, either bv an eXalta-
ton OF depression of their constructile
power, and these conditions are gener-
ally exhibited in the musles of the Ium-
bar ventral and femoral regions. Func-
tiOnal irregularity of muscles may arise
from granular degeneration of the
muscles without any disease being found
in the nerves or nerve centerS.
The treatment for strain of the mus
eles exists in repose, soothing applica-
tons succeeded by slight and afterward
stronger and more active cOunter-irri-
tants. After the acute inflammation
passes off, that is succeeded by atrophy,
the animal showing some signs of weak
ness and inability, but this condition
will soon pass away and the muscles re-
gain their normal tone. The most seri-
Gus eases of strain we meet with are of
the tlexor tendons, suspensory ligaments
and the Ggaments of the lower Joints.
Injuries of this kind are very common
among horses used for fast work, both
trotting and running. The treatment
in such cases is often very unsatisfac-
tory. The first and most important
thing to do, if occurring in hot weather,
is to constantly use cold applications
until most of the Inflammation is sub
dued. If occurring in the colder months
of the year, | think hot water preferable !
to cold. One danger, however, in using
hot water is its relaxing tendency. After |
all inflammation is sUbdued apply /
good active blister of cantharides and /
biniodde of mercury, and the best meth
cd believe is to make an application /
twice a day for few days until such /
time as the parts are thoroughly coun-
l have also found glyce-
rine much better remedy to apply to
the blistered parts than lard and heavier
fats and oils. After all the scabs and
skin is removed, commence
the handwriting process, using glyce-
rine and iodine three times day.
believe if such treatment be followed up,
the actual cautery can be dispensed with
IN many cases. DR.. Fair, IN Ohio Farm
n.