Journal of Agriculture . 



[8 June, igoy. 



The inferior suspensory ligaments are three in number, named respec- 

 tivelv the X, the V, and the V ligaments, on account of their fibres being 

 so arranged as to resemble these letters. (Figs. 30 and 31.) Thev are situ- 

 ated immediately behind the long pastern bone, running from the base of 

 the sesamoid bones above to the back of the pastern bones below ; and their 

 function is, in conjunction with the superior suspensory ligaments, to pas- 

 sively sujjport the fetlock joint in position. 



SvMPTOMS.^When the lameness is due to sprain the hor.se stands with 

 the heel elevated and the toe resting on the ground. When moved he 

 walks on his toe. avoids bringinc; the heel to the ground and the fetlork 



Superior suspeusory li-r 

 ment:— Bifurcation of 



Pad of cartilage o\er- 

 l.vino- sesaiuoid bones 

 (seat of "sesamoi 

 ditis"). 



Lateral ligament 

 binding sesamoid 

 bone to fetlock. 



V ligament (infei loi 

 sesamoidean). 



V lisfament (inferi ir 

 s-esamoidean). 



PosteHor pastern lign^-~J^i|il||il 

 ment. t««shi i»i 



Lateral jiastern lii,i 

 ment. 



Broad navicular lii;a 

 ment. 



T iteral se.samoidean 

 luamenr. 



ostenor pastern 

 I U anient. 

 I iteral pastern 

 luament. 



'iroad navicular 

 ligament. 



Fi[4s. 30 and ^i Du-r. tK.ns of jJO^terior asjiett of fetlock and pastern 



jomt^ is sprung forward and never allowed to come back to its natural 

 I)osition on account of the pain caused by putting the sprained ligament 

 on the stretch. There is a dense swelling in the hollow above the heels 

 and behind the pastern, very tender to the touch and sometimes filling the 

 ])astern hollow up le\e!. In actual rupture of the ligaments there is no 

 support for the fetlock pad which descends at each step until it almost or 

 actually reaches the groimd. (See Fig. 29.) 



Treatment.— During the early painful stage, hot fomentations should 

 lie applied, and when the acute inflammation has subsided a blister mav be 



