DEFINITION.- This is a division in the fibre of the hoof, causing fissure. It generally occurs at the inner quarter of a fore foot and in front of a hind one.
CAUSES.- Dryness and brittleness of the horn, due to injury inflicted on the coronary secreting surface, or to a deficiency in ]the gelatinous matter which binds the fibres together.
TREATMENT.- All pressure from the shoe underneath the crack must be avoided, and in those cases were lameness arises from the sensible lamina becoming squeezed by the edges of the crack, the edges of the horn must be cut away or thinned, and the foot frequently fomented until all inflammation has subsided. But in ordinary case we should endeavour at once to close the crack, and, if it has not proceeded up to the coronet, to prevent its doing so. These ends will be best accomplished by the following process. After cleaning out the crack and thinning its edges with a rasp, the operator should take a sharp firing-iron, at a red heat, and, if the laminae be not exposed, run it slightly down the crack, so as to cause an oozing from its sides, thus gluing them together. He should then make a short, deep fissure nearly through the horn, transversely, above and below the crack, and finally cover it and the whole of the wall with some melted shoemaker’s wax and broad tape, so as to keep the edges of the fissure together; keep out dirt and moisture, and protect the new horn, which must in all cases grow from above downward. From this it is evident that the treatment of Sandcrack is usually a tedious process, but it is curable if the directions by followed out. A bar-shoe will be advisable in most cases. Arnica lotion will relieve pain and lameness. The application of Sanguinaria will keep down proud flesh when it appears.
Synovitis.
DEFINITION.- Acute inflammation of the synovial membrane of a joint.
CAUSES.- Rheumatic fever; exposure to heat and cold; also friction from quick work on a hard road; sprains.
SYMPTOMS.- Lameness, quickly followed by swelling of joint, which is hot and painful. As the disease proceeds, coagulable lymph may be thrown out, and the joint become permanently enlarge, or adhesion may take place between the opposite surfaces of the membrane, and the animal be left with a stiff anchylosed joint.
TREATMENT.- Aconitum.- This is the most effectual remedy, not for reducing the inflammation, but also for preventing coagulable effusion of any subsequent disorganisation of the joints. It should be used steadily as long as there are any febrile symptoms, or much local pain remains.
Bryonia.- When the active symptoms are somewhat subdued, and there remain swelling with slight lameness, Bryonia is the most appropriate remedy.
Other remedies which will at times be found useful are Arnica Rhus., Colchicum, Mercur., Coloc. Arsen., Sulphur, and Veratrum-Vir.
ACCESSORY MEASURES.- The joint affected should be bathed three times a day for half and hour at a time, with warm water; then, when dry, Arnica one part, and water twelve parts, well rubbed in.
Sore Teats.
The teats are liable to become inflamed, excoriated, and cracked into painful sores, which exude a sanious discharge. If the affection be caused by an injury, Arnica lotion1 should be applied; if alone is often sufficient to effect a cure. It should be applied twice daily.
If pustules form, which must be brought to a head, Hepar Sulphur facilitates the process.
When the pustules have broken, Silica will generally complete the cure. The dose may be repeated every four hours.
If “milking” causes great pain, the teat-tube must be used, and the milk drawn off several times daily.
Sore Throat
DEFINITION.- Inflammatory swelling of the fauces.
CAUSES.- Washing an animal with cold water when perspiring, and not afterwards drying it; exposure to cold and wet, and other like causes.
________________________________________________________________________________ 1 See introductory chapter on the external remedies, etc. SYMPTOMS.- The throat is hot and painful; the glands under the jaw and up towards the ears are swelled, and tender to the touch; there is great difficulty of swallowing; excessive secretion of saliva; and difficulty of breathing, occasioned by the swelling of the inside of the throat and the top of the windpipe; febrile symptoms; and a hard, dry cough.
TREATMENT.- Aconitum is the best medicine to begin with, especially when the fever is considerable, the mouth dry, and there is much thirst. A dose every three hours.
Belladonna.- Great difficulty of swallowing especially fluids, which return through the nose; the glands of the neck are swelled and tender, slight pressure upon the throat causes a choking sensation, and the breathing is difficult. A dose four times daily.
Mercurius must be had recourse to when, in spite of the last medicine, the symptoms are not mitigated, or only partially so. A dose four times daily.
Sulphur.- In obstinate sore throats. A dose two or three times daily, according to the symptoms.
DIET.- Bran-mashes, gruel, and milk and bread; and as a drink, barley-water, or milk and water; as improvement takes place, boiled oats, turnips, or carrots, and if in season, green food.
ACCESSORY MEANS.- Cleanliness, warmth, and dryness, in a well- ventilated stable, are necessary to the successful treatment of this disease.
Splint.
This is a small bony enlargement, situate at the upper part of the cannon-bone or shank, below the knee. Splints occur chiefly on the fore leg, and almost exclusively on the inside of the limb. When the splint is in the course of formation, the horse is generally lame, for the membrane covering the bone is painfully stretched; but when this membrane has accommodated itself to the tumour that extended it, the lameness may subside and altogether disappear, unless the splint be in a situation in which it interferes with the action of some tendon or ligament, or in the immediate neighbourhood of a joint.
CAUSES.- Sudden or long-continued strain; blows.
TREATMENT.- On the first appearance of this disease the parts should be well fomented, or a hot poultice of turnip or linseed may be applied for twenty-four hours; them Rhus lotion should be rubbed in thrice daily. After each rubbing apply a compress soaked with the lotion to the affected part; this should be well covered to prevent evaporation. At the same time ten drops of the tincture of Rhus Tox. as prepared for internal use, may be given night and morning.
Should no improvement take place from this treatment in ten or twelve days, it may be advisable to perform the following operation. Make a small opening in the skin just below the splint, and introduce a knife with a convex edge; as soon as the knife reaches the centre of the splint, turn it edge downwards, and make two or three free incisions into the periosteum. Withdraw the knife, and dress the wound with a wet bandage.
Sprains
DEFINITION.- Any lesion or overstretching of the ligaments, the muscular or tendinous fibres, or the fascia which covers them.
CAUSES.- False steps; slipping; twisting or contorting the joints to an extent beyond that permitted by the natural limitations of flexion.
SYMPTOMS.- Pain on motion and pressure, and all the ordinary symptoms of inflammation, namely redness, swelling, heat, and pain, and frequently constitutional disturbance or fever.
TREATMENT.- This consists in affording REST to the limb, mitigating the pain, and subduing inflammatory action. Apply a compress moistened with Arnica lotion; and over this a covering of thick calico or flannel, which must be secured by means of a bandage, but not so tight as to impede the circulation. Before applying the bandage the part may be rubbed with the lotion. Arnica may be given internally at the same time, every three or four hours. If there is much inflammation present, Aconitum may be alternated with Arnica, four times daily.
In severer sprains it will often be necessary to use the Rhus lotion after the Arnica, and in the same manner, especially if the heat and pain have been lessened by the latter, but not the swelling.
OTHER MEANS.- In some sprains, especially if not seen for some hours after the infliction of the injury, it will be advisable to precede the medical treatment by fomentations with warm water, and afterwards to dry the parts with a cloth before applying the lotion. After the swelling has subsided, the animal may only very gradually return to its accustomed work.
Stringhalt.
This term is applied to a peculiar movement of the hind let – a twitching, or sudden and convulsive picking up of the limb. The hock is bent, and the leg is carried very high. It is not lameness, for there is no dropping on the other leg; and when the horse is ridden, the halt is not felt by the rider, like hock lameness. In some cases the hock is affected, and in others the pressure of some exostosis on a nerve has been supposed to cause the disorder. But it is probably caused by irregular spasmodic action of the muscles, chiefly the extensor pedis, due to some obscure disease of the nerves.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."