SPEAINS OF TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS OF THE FORE-LEG. 335 



rally produce strong upright heels. Highly bred horses have a tendency 

 to small feet, whilst under bred animals generally have large feet. In 

 examining a horse, due allowance should be made for these facts. 



672. Temporary causes of Lameness. 



Lameness is often caused by pricking, or by tight nailing or sometimes 

 by a bruise of the sole. The seat of injury will be best detected by 

 pinching the foot or tapping it with the hammer. A full examination 

 with the drawing knife must be made of any part, which may appear 

 unduly sensitive under the application of the above tests. 



672ft. Treatment of diseases of the Foot. 



For the nature and the treatment of the diseases of the Foot, see 

 Chapter 65. 



CHAPTER 44. 



SPEAINS OF TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS OF THE FORE-LEG. 



673. Nature of so-called Sprains. 674. Structure of Tendons and Liga- 

 ments. 675. Shortening of Tendons and Ligaments. 676. Duties of 

 Flexor Tendons. 677. Duties and description of Ligaments. 678. Duties 

 of the superior Sesamoideal or true Suspensory Ligament. 679. Duties of 

 Extensor Tendons. 680. Symptoms indicating a sprain, How to ascer- 

 tain its seat. 681. Distinction in Symptoms between sprains of the Flexor 

 Tendons, and sprains of the Metacarpal and superior Sesamoideal Liga- 

 ments. 682. Sprains of the Flexor Tendons. 683. Sprain of the Meta- 

 carpal Ligament. 684. Sprain of the superior Sesamoideal Ligament, 

 commonly called the Suspensory Ligament. 685. Cases of doubt. 686. 

 Treatment of Sprains of Tendons and Ligaments. 687. Detail of Treat- 

 ment. 688. After-treatment. 689. Biniodide of Mercury. 690. Arnica. 

 691. Sprains of the Fetlock joint. 692. Injuries of Sheaths of Tendons 

 and Ligaments. 693. To distinguish between sprain of the Sheath of a 

 Tendon or Ligament, and sprain of the Tendon or Ligament itself. 694. 

 Treatment of sprains of Sheaths. 695. Shoulder sprains. 696. Elbow 

 'lameness. 697. Rheumatic lameness. 698. Conclusion. 



673. Nature of so-called Sprains. 



Tendons and Ligaments are often said to be sprained ; but the expres- 

 sion is not, as a general rule, strictly correct. Their formation renders 

 such an injury of but rare occurrence. They are dense, firm, nearly 



