9 ■Sept., 1907.] Lameness in Horses. 525,. 



limb altogether. Sometimes the lameness is accompanied by swellings or 

 pufifiness of tendons ox joints, and the symptoms will vary with the location 

 of the lameness for the time being. 



Treatment. — In the case of intermittent rheumatic lameness the treat- 

 ment should be by systemic means and should aimi at getting rid of the rheu- 

 matic poison (see page 219). The avoidance of draughts and chills should 

 be attended to and regular but gentle exercise given. Hand rubbing of 

 the part for the time being affected, or the application to it of a stimulating 

 liniment is often advantageous (see page 75). 



Rheumatic Arthritis. 



This may occur in almost any joint though it is rare that joints other 

 than the hip, stifle, hock, and fetlock are affected, and as a rule only old 

 horses are subject to it. Different symptoms are exhibited according as 

 one or other of the joints is affected, but the lameness is usually more 

 painful than that arising from other causes. When the joint is forcibly 

 moved a "creaking" sound may be emitted. The articular surfaces of the 

 joints are involved for the most part. Thev lose their covering of cartilage 

 and become roughened on their opposing surfaces, which become hardened 

 by a deposit of a calcareous or porcelainous character. Later on swelling 

 of the bones takes place and they become united (anchylosed). 



Treatment of the rheumatoid arthritis is usually of no avail. Some- 

 times the pain may be lessened by the application of a fly blister or, when 

 very acute, temporarv relief may be afforded by the hypodermic injection 

 ■of morphia (see page 60). 



INTERNAL LAMENESS. 



Occasionally cases of lameness are come across which completely baffle 

 all attempts at diagnosis. The lameness may be persistent and may appear 

 to exist in a particular region, but, even after the lapse of considerable 

 time, no change of structure or other sign of disease is found to develop. 

 For instance there is a form of lameness affecting the right shoulder which 

 is supposed to arise from disease of the liver. It may be accompanied by 

 .a jaundiced condition of the visible mucous membranes, but usually, except 

 the cause is guessed at, it remains obscure until death, when on post 

 mortem examination the liver is found to be cirrhosed. 



In like manner thrombosis (or blood clot) in the large trunk veins of the 

 hind limb (the iliac veins) gives rise to a form of lameness the cause of 

 Avhich cannot be definitely ascertained until examination after death. 



Elsewhere^ I have recorded a case of obscure lameness in a horse 

 •caused by infiammatoTy disease of the spleen with enlargement. In this 

 case the most prominent symptom was a stiffness in gait or lameness of the 

 near hind limb (the same side as the spleen) the action of which was 

 peculiar. On advancing the limb, which was done stiffly, the animal 

 seemed to cringe as if pain was caused and the limb was bUddenly stopped 

 short of a proper step. Intermittent colic was an associated symptom. 

 This lameness was evidently caused mechanically by the pressure of the 

 abdominal contents against the spleen causing or increasing the pain when 

 the limb was advanced. 



1 The Australasian Veterinary and Live Stock Journal, Janiiarv, i8qi. 



