8 May, 1907.] 



Lameness in Horses. 



261 



lamenesses produced have many characters in common, it is nevertheless 

 desirable for the sake of accuracy in diagnosis that their causes and 

 symptoms should be treated separately. The treatment required for each 

 is practically the same and will be f:;iven after the following descriptions. 



Sprain of the Inferior Check Ligament. 



This ligament is situated at the upper end of the posterior aspect of the 

 cannon bone, lying in the depression between the two splint bones. It is 

 strongly inserted to the lower row of knee bones, from which it passes 

 down and becomes attached, at aboiit the middle of the cannon bone, to 

 the tendon of the principal muscle flexing the foot {fiexor fedis -perforans). 

 It has a function analogous to that of the superior check ligament, in that 

 it checks over-strain of the tendon tO' which it is attached. Sprain of this 

 ligament is most commonly met with in cart horses, although it also occurs 

 in other horses as a result of some sudden jerk or strain, as when getting 

 up in the stable or when galloping O'ver " crab-holev " country. 



lC\tt-ii^i>i' pedis 



I'ei-fiirat'.is ten '.on. 



■,''n;:ir\ Ii;^aiiu-iit,. 



■'.livs from suiierior 

 li-an.rut. 



Fig. 4. — Dia^^r.un of bones, lemlons, and lij,'aments of near fore leg. (After Hayes.) 



Symptoms. — Local pain, heat and swelling are usually quickly de- 

 \eloped and if the swelling is at all pronounced it mechanically interferes 

 with the bending of the knee, the action of which is consequently "stiff." 

 The sprain most often occurs at the junction of the ligament with the 

 tendon, i.e., a little above half-way between the knee and the fetlock, and 

 the enlargement is therefore moTe pronounced at this spot. When standing 

 the knee and fetlock are slightly bent, the pastern is upright and the heel 

 a little raised. This posture is assumed in order to lessen the tension on 

 the sprained ligament. When moved there is an obvious want of free 

 flexion of the knee accompanied by a stumbling gait with a tendency to 

 stab the toe into the ground and to bend over at the fetlock. 



