The Arizona sentinel., 1886-08-28
LAMENESS IN ANIMALS.
The Proper Way of Diagnosing and Treat
 ing This Affiiction.

The Proper Way of Diagnosing and Treat
 ing This Affiiction.
 Lameness is not of itself disease. but sign of it, and it is a manifesto ton by one or more of the limbs, of pain, weakness, inability or impedi- 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. It may, however, arise from disease apart from the limbs, as in case of liver and spinal disease. It may exist for short time independent of disease, but if it lasts, disease is sure to follow. Disease much oftener exists in 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 limb, which renders him for time be- ing ''dead lame." It is possible to have great lameness from plugging of the arteries with a tibrinous clOt. In those cases find the leg deathly cold and the animal may start out to all appearances well, but after going a quarter of mile will pull up dead lame.
 The slow trot is the best gat to diag. nose lameness at. If the lameness be III 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 well forward and downward by jerking motion. A close inspection while standing still is wise in locating lameness. As rule. when 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 strain of ligament, muscular tissue, ten dons, fractures, diseased bones, cartil- ace, morbid conditions of the skin, tumors, plugging of the arteries, acci- dents such as bricks in shoeing. 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 fragments. Muscles are liable to become deranged in their functions, either by an exalta- ton or depression of their constructile power, and these conditions are gener- ally exhibited in the musles of the lum- 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 cles exists in repose, soothing applica- tiOns 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- OuS cases OI StTdlIl we lueoG WlGu dTe Ol the fiexor tendons, suspensory ligaments and the fragments 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- tOrv 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 biniodide of mercury, and the best meth cd l believe is to make an application tw;ce day for few days until such time as the parts are thoroughly coun- ter-irritated. 1 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 insensitive skin is removed, commence the hand-rubbing process, using glyce- rine and iodine three times day. 1 believe if such treatment be followed up, the actual cautery can be dispensed with in many cases, ,-Dr. Fur, iD Ohio Farnp CT.