When a horse's hind-feet slip under him, and especially if carrying a heavy load, he may suffer a strain of the muscles of the back, or in jumping those under the loin may be sprained. Horses, when jumping a drain and falling short, sometimes suffer sprain in their struggles to gain the hank. In some instances of this kind valuable animals have been destroyed under the erroneous impression that the back was broken, when a more careful diagnosis and judicious treatment would have restored the animal to a state of usefulness.

Paralysis is a symptom common to both broken hack and sprained hack, but in fracture of the spine, or serious compression of the cord, there is not only inability to rise, but inability to flex the hind-legs in any degree. In the case of sprain of the muscles of the back there remains some capacity for movement in the legs, although the patient may be unable immediately to rise.

Where there is doubt the prostrate animal should be raised by means of slings, and although he may knuckle over at the fetlocks at first, and show great distress and imperfect control of the hind-legs for a time, the absence of spinal injury will soon become apparent by returning power of the limbs to support the weight of the body.

In the case of fracture or injury to the spinal cord the hind-quarters will continue to hang helplessly in the slings, and no effort is made to stand, though the distressed creature may make fruitless attempts with his front-feet to secure a footing. In sprain of the back, in which the injury is not so severe as to preclude the animal from getting up, there will still be a difficulty in bringing the hind-legs under him, but this will gradually disappear as reparation proceeds and the muscles regain their tone.

Following upon disablement from this cause, more or less wasting or atrophy of the injured muscles will sometimes appear. The movements of the hind-limbs are for a time weak, and the fetlocks knuckle over now and again during progression.

Treatment

Although a serious accident, sprain of the back may be regarded hopefully, the majority of cases making slow but complete recovery. Rest in slings has been mentioned already; soothing fomentations applied over the region of the back and warm enemas given frequently will prove helpful; an aperient dose of aloes at first and subsequent careful regulation of the bowels by judicious dieting is also advised.

At a later period, and prior to a run at grass, a blister over the loins is applied, and, if necessary, repeated. With a view to promoting the renewal of muscular tone and power, strychnine and iron in small repeated doses will also be helpful.