The illustrated horse doctor : $b being an accurate and detailed account of the various diseases to which the equine race are subjectedMayhew, Edward
Science
The illustrated horse doctor : $b being an accurate and detailed account of the various diseases to which the equine race are subjected
Mayhew, Edward
Horses -- Diseases
Ulceration is sometimes, though rarely, witnessed within the elbow-joint;
a case of this description is recorded by the late W. Percival. The chief
symptom indicated subacute laminitis; the affection appeared gradually,
and, without intermission, proceeded from simple bad to the very worst.
The foot was, however, neither hot nor tender; by this sign the affection
was distinguished from every form of fever in the feet, although the
animal endeavored to bear only upon the heels of the fore extremities, and
brought the hind legs as far under the body as was possible.
[Illustration: THE MANNER IN WHICH A HORSE HAVING ULCERATION OF THE
ELBOW-JOINT ENDEAVORS TO PROGRESS.]
Disease of the knee-joint is far from unusual. Mr. Cherry first directed
attention to this fact; for, although dissection had frequently exhibited
the carpal bones united, no one prior to Mr. Cherry drew any inference
from the obvious indication.
Mr. Cherry describes the symptoms of the affection to be a stiffened
protrusion of the fore leg, a long step, and an entire want of flexion in
the diseased limb.
The author is unable to corroborate the above observations, possibly from
his attention only having been directed to a few cases, and those not of
a very acute character. The writer has, however, remarked, in certain
instances, a perpetual knuckling over, without deposit in the knee or
contraction in the tendons being present to account for the assumption of
so uncomfortable an attitude. A want of power to bend the leg was noted in
a few animals. Such horses either placed the limb outside the body when
they lay down, or rested upon their sides; and lameness, though always
present, was never witnessed in an aggravated shape.
[Illustration: THE HEALTHY LEG WHEN THE HORSE IS LYING DOWN.]
[Illustration: THE NEAREST APPROACH MADE BY THE HEEL TO THE ELBOW IN
CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF THE KNEE-JOINT.]
No human lamentation could embody the deep sorrow which the crippled
condition of one leg occasions to the horse. The creature thereby is left
a clog upon the earth. Its existence is deprived of the power which alone
made it pleasant. Progression is laborious, and even rest is painful. The
quadruped, thus disabled, stands motionless on one spot; the head is
lowered; the eyes are dejected; the breathing is fitful; and the entire
frame is apparently resigned to a huge sense of degradation. All the pride
of life is lost. Every trace of animation has fled. The animal evidently
is, in its own conviction, useless and disgraced. A horse in such a
state is, indeed, a melancholy spectacle; and the feelings of that man
who, understanding the image, can contemplate it unmoved are not to be
envied. Still, for how many years has such a sight been before the eyes of
mankind, without any individual possessing the heart to interpret it!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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