264 



Journal of Agriculture. 



[8 May, 1907. 



on the suspensory ligament at such moments is tremendous ; especially, if, 

 when the horse is fatigued, the muscles are too tired tO' assist in supporting 

 the Aveight or relieving the tension on the ligament. 



Symptoms. — On the occurrence of a slight sprain there may be no 

 lameness evidenced in the walk and the horse may stand level and bear 

 weight on the limb; but in the trot, lameness will be at once apparent and 

 the more severe the sprain the greater will be the lameness. Its principal 

 characteristic is that the toe is always brought first to the ground and the 

 fetlock is never allowed to go back to its natural position. When at rest 

 the pastern is more upright than its fellow and the fetlock is held Icoselv 



Fig. 10. — Deep sesamoidean 

 lignments; a, inter-sesamoidean 

 ligament ; b, crucial or .Y liga- 

 ment. 



Fig. (). — Sesamuideau and digital ligaments — 

 posterior aspect ; a, superior suspensory liga- 

 ment ; b b b, external and middle inferior sesa- 

 moidean ligaments. The central bundle is the 

 1', the two lateral ones forming the V ligament ; 

 f, annular sesamoidean ligament ; d d, posterior 

 ligaments of the pastern joint; e e, lateral; and 

 /', inferior, navicular ligaments. 



Reversion to ori 



forward so that no strain is placed upon it at the back. If the ligament 

 is actuallv ruptured, which however seldom occurs, the fetlock pad may 

 descend almost to the ground. There will always be some local heat and 

 swelling and pain on pressure of the sprained part, and the amount of 

 these will be proportionate to the severity of the sprain. In old standing 

 cases the ligament becomes thickened and corded to an extent plainlv evi- 

 dent to touch and sight. 



Treatmerit. — In the treatment of the conditions just described, as in 

 fact of all sprains, complete rest is essential ; in the first stages at all 



