DISEASES OF THE FETLOCK. ANKLK, AM) lODT. 403 



animal to hobble on three legs. While at n-t the leg is Hexed at the 

 joint atfected, anel the toe lests on the ground. 



Treatnietit. — If the injury is slight, cold-water bandages and a lew 

 days' rest are sutlicient to etfect recovery. When there is an intense 

 lameness, swelling, etc., the leg should be placed untler a con.stant 

 btieam of cold water, as de.scribed in the treatment for <|uittor. 

 When the inflammation has subsided, a blister to the joint should be 

 applied. 



In some ca.^'s, es[)ecially in old horses long accu.stome<l to last 

 work, the ligaments of the joints are ruptured, in whole or in i)art, 

 and the lameness may last a long time. In these cases the joint .should 

 be kept completely at rest; this condition is best obtained by the 

 application of plaster of Paris bandages, as in cases of fracture. 

 As a rule, patients take kindly to this bandage, and, while wearing it, 

 may be given the freedom of a roomy box or yard. If they are dis- 

 posed to- tear it otf, or if sufficient rest can not otherwise be obtained, 

 the patient must 1k' kei>t in slings. 



In the majority of instances the plaster bandage .should remain cm 

 from two to four weeks. If the lameness returns when the bandage 

 is removed, a new one should be put on. The swelling, which always 

 remains after the other evidences of the disease have disappeared, 

 may be largely dissipated and the joint strengthened by the use of the 

 firing iron and blisters. 



A joint once injured by a severe sprain never entirely regains its 

 original strength, and is ever after ]>articulnrly liable to a repetition 

 of the injury. 



RUPTURE OF THE SUSPEN.SORY LIGAMENT. 



Sprain with or without rupture of the suspensory ligament may 

 happen in either the fore or hind legs, and is occasionally seen in 

 horses of all classes and at all ages. Old animals, however, and espe- 

 cially hunters, runners, and trotters, are the most subject to this 

 injury, and with them the seat of the trouble is nearly always in one 

 or both the f<;re legs. IIor.ses used for heavy tlraft are more liable to 

 have the ligament of the hind legs affected. 



When the strain upon the suspensory ligann-nt becomes too great, 

 one or both of the branches nuiy be t<irn from the sesam<»id bones, one 

 or both of the branches may be torn completely acro.ss, or the liga- 

 ment may rupture above the point of division. 



St/mpforiiM. — The most common injury to the su.spensory ligament 

 is sprain of the internal branch in one of the fore legs. The trouble 

 is i'ldicatod by lanuMiess, heat, swelling, and ten<lerness of the affected 

 branch, beginning just above the sc>samoid bone and extending 

 obli«|uely downward and forward to the front of the ankle. If the 

 whole ligament is involved, the swelling crimes on gradually, and is 



