346 CHAPTER 44. 



from the former, have been already explained in Chapter No. 27 on 

 Rheumatism. 



T>98. Conclusion. 



Tendons and Ligaments, even though but slightly sprained, generally 

 show some trace, and if at all severely sprained, always show considerable 

 trace of the injury, ever after in the way of thickening or shortening. In 

 other words, the products of the original inflammatory action in the part 

 are never completely taken up and removed by the absorbents and blood- 

 vessels, even though the tendon or ligament may be thoroughly repaired 

 and as strong as it ever was. Time and the application of very mild 

 blisters repeated three or four times after recovery, may do much towards 

 removing any such thickening, but still some trace of it will remain. 

 With decrease of the thickening, the apparent shortening will diminish. 



Whether a horse with a thickened or contracted tendon or ligament is 

 to be accounted " sound " in the strict sense of the word, supposing of 

 course' that no trace of lameness results, is perhaps doubtful. For practical 

 purposes this, like most other questions, is one of degree, depending 

 first on the amount of injury in each case, secondly on the conformation 

 of the animal and the probability of the recurrence of the lesion as indi- 

 cated by his make and shape, thirdly on the age, and lastly on the sort 

 of work on which it is intended to employ the horse. 



If, for instance, there are indications of a sprain having at some pre- 

 vious time occurred in one of the flexor tendons, and the intending 

 purchaser notices that the horse is long from the knee to the fetlock, he 

 will do well in such case not to conclude the bargain, because the chances 

 are that with such conformation the injury will recur if the animal is put 

 to severe work. On the other hand, if the horse is young and the confor- 

 mation is good, and if the intending purchaser can afford to lay him up 

 for some time, the probability is that, with the amount of strength gained 

 by increasing age and rest, the injury will not recur ; or if the horse is 

 old, and it can be ascertained that he stood sound for a season's hunting 

 since the occurrence of the sprain, a purchase might safely be made. 

 Something, however, would of course in either case be knocked off the 

 price. 



Again, much must depend on the price asked, and the use for which 

 the animal is required. A horse may stand sound for hunting, whoso 

 legs will not stand training ; or another horse may last for years in 

 harness, which would knock up in a single day's hunting. 



