STRAINS. 47 
an 
BREAKING DOWN. 
GREAT CONFUSION exists among trainers as to the exact nature of this 
accident, which is considered by the veterinary surgeon to consist in an 
actual rupture of the suspensory ligament either above or below the sesa- 
moid bones, which, in fact, merely separate this apparatus of suspension 
into two portions, just as the patella intervenes between the rectus femoris 
and the tibia. Whichever part of the suspensory apparatus is gone 
(whether the superior or inferior sesamoidal ligament is immaterial), the 
fetlock and pastern joints lose their whole inelastic support; and the 
flexor tendons, together with their ligamentous fibres which they 
receive from the carpus, giving way, as they must do, to allow of the 
accident taking place, the toe is turned up, and the fetlock joint bears 
upon the ground. This is a complete “break down ;’ but there are 
many cases in which the destruction of the ligamentous fibres is not 
complete, and the joint, though much lowered, does not actually touch 
the ground. These are still called breaks down, and must be regarded 
as such, and as quite distinct from strains of the flexor tendons. The 
accident generally occurs in a tired horse, when the flexor muscles do 
not continue to support the ligaments, from which circumstance it so 
often happens in the last few strides of a race. The symptoms are a 
partial or entire giving way of the fetlock joint downwards, so that 
the back of it either touches the ground or nearly so, when the weight 
is thrown upon it. Usually, however, after the horse is pulled up, he 
hops on three legs, and refuses altogether to put that which is broken 
down to the ground. In a very few minutes the leg “fills” at the 
seat of the accident, and becomes hot.and very tender to the touch. 
There can, therefore, be no doubt as to the nature of the mischief, and 
the confusion to which allusion has been made is one of names rather 
than of facts. Zveatment can only be directed to a partial recovery from 
this accident, for a horse broken down in the sense in which the term is 
here used can only be used for stud purposes or at slow farm work. A 
patten shoe should at once be put on after bleeding at the toe to a copious 
extent, and then fomentations followed by cold lotions should be applied, 
as directed in the last section. As there must necessarily be a deformity 
of the leg, there can be no objection on that score to firig, and when 
the severe inflammation following the accident has subsided this operation 
should be thoroughly performed, so as to afford relief not only by the 
counter irritation which is set up, and which lasts only for a time, but by 
the rigid and unyielding case which it leaves behind for a series of years. 
STRAINS OF THE HIP JOINT, STIFLE, AND HOCK. 
THE HIP JOINT, OR ROUND BONE, is liable to be strained by the hind feet 
slipping and being stretched apart, or by blows against the side of the 
stall, when cast, which are not sufficient to dislocate the femur, but strain 
its ligaments severely. The consequence is an inflammation of the joint, 
which is evidenced by a dropping of one hip in going, the weight being 
throw. more upon the sound side than upon the other. This is especially 
remarkable on first starting, the lameness soon going off in work, but 
returning after rest. The case, however, is a rare one, and its description 
need not, therefore, occupy much of our space. When it does happen, it 
is very apt to lead to a wasting of the deep muscles of the haunch, which 
