TENDONS
—are the elastic covering of the muscles, composed of an infinity of fibres, which, in their aggregate, form a substance of great strength, and appropriate contraction and elongation, for all the purposes of expansion and flexibility. The tendons in a horse most liable to injury and accident, are those passing down the shank-bone of the fore-legs, from nearly the back of the knee, to their seat of insertion at the fetlock joint, which are in general known by the name of the back sinews. These, and the accidents to which they are liable, have been so fully treated on under the heads of Lameness and Sprains, that enlarging here would only prove a repetition superfluous and unnecessary. A wounded or punctured tendon, by thorn, stub, stable-prong, or with any other instrument, is always attended with excruciating pain, and violent inflammation, producing the most dangerous symptoms. In such cases it has been too much the practice to have immediate recourse to turpentine, and other spirituous applications, which is only adding fuel to the FIRE, and rendering the remedy worse than the DISEASE. Warm, mild fomentations, emollient poultices, gentle digestives upon lint covered with tow, and recourse to the most judicious and experienced practitioner to be obtained, constitute the only sound basis upon which even hope of recovery can be entertained; as most cases of the kind, if serious and severe, have a very unfavourable termination; those few subjects who seem completely restored, being ever after incapable of any work of consequence, ranking only as invalids.