CLAP IN THE BACK SINEWS, means a strain of the flexor tendons of the leg. It may, and sometimes does in hunters and racers, take place behind; but its common seat is one of the fore legs. The true nature of an ordinary strain is nothing more than Irr T.TrIrr •r1 a violent stretch, attended probably with laceration of the cellular tissue connecting the tendons toge ther, and to the other parts in their immediate vi cinity. In violent sprains of the tendons themselves, it is possible that some of their own fibres may be turn or overstretched; but that the tendons are ever torn asunder, as the phrase " broken down," (which is commonly applied to a violent accident of this description) would seem to denote, is not correct: they are much too strong in texture to admit of it in such a case as the present. The accident is at once discovered to us by the swelling, heat, and tenderness of the leg, and more particularly of the posterior part of it; and also by the excessive lame ness which attends it while recent.
In setting 'about the treatment of this affection, our first object should be, to subdue the existing inflammation: which is best accomplished by draw ing blood from the plate vein, by continual fomen tation, by a cold lotion and bandage around the leg, and by giving a dose of physic, and keeping the animal on mash diet. What is of much conse
quence, also, is having a shoe put on with raised or high heels, in lieu of the one which the horse has on at the time. When the inflammation is on the decline, the cold bath should be substituted for the fomentations; and the bandage applied more tightly round the leg. Should any swelling or thick ening remain after the subsidence of the inflamma tion, sal ammoniac, spirits of wine, and vinegar, mixed, should be rubbed on the leg, still using the bandage as before. After continuing this for a few weeks, should there still remain any thickening it may be desirable to get rid of, the leg may be blis tered, and subsequently fired.