LEGS OF THE HORSE, THEIR ACCIDENTS AND DISEASES. 345 



and ligaments, which hold the parts in th.it position ever after, unless 

 relieved by the operation called tenotomy. 



How to know it. — The legs of somid horses are straight from the el- 

 bow to the fetlock. Hence, any deviation from that position indicates 

 something wrong. Stand opposite the shoulder of the horse, and notice 

 the leg ; any bending forward from the straight line at the knee creates 

 suspicion. Any bad case, and many mild ones, are accompanied with 

 thickening of the back tendons, indicating neglected sprains. 



What to do.— There is nothing to be done, except in recent cases, 

 which are rare. A case that has not been longer than two or three 

 months in coming may be benefitted by clipping the hair from the back 

 tendons, wherever there is any thickening or soreness, and showerino- 

 with cold water several times a day for two or three days, and then ap- 

 plying blister, No. 9, well rubbed in. Remove the shoes, pare down the 

 feet and open the heels. Tie his head up, so he cannot bite the blister, 

 for thirty hours ; then grease it once a day till nearly healed, and turn 

 him out for a long run at grass. If he is not improved in a month, re- 

 peat the blister. 



In old, chronic, incurable cases the operation called tenotomy, can be 

 performed sometimes to very great advantage, but not as often as in 

 ease of cocked ankles, which form the subject of our next article. The 

 operation will be therein described. 



VI. Cocked Ankles. 



The fetlocks are often knuckled forward, but this, like knee spruno-j 

 is only a symptom of some other trouble. The fetlocks are, however, 

 often mistaken for the seat of the.lameness, and are blistered and muti' 

 lated, of course without any benefit. 



Causes. — Sprains of the suspensory ligaments, when low down around 

 or below the fetlock joint ; lameness in the bursa of the pcrforans ten- 

 don, as it passes over the fetlock ; bruises on the heels ; corns ; quittor ; 

 navicular disease, or nail in the foot — anything that makes the horse 

 rest the heels or lower and back part of the leg. Sometimes in bad 

 eases of shoulder lameness, the leg is rested in such a nianner as to let 

 the back tendons contract so as to throw the fetlock forward. 



How to know it. — It is recognized by the ankle joint being thrown for- 

 ward like a knuckle ; the heels raised slightly ; the tendons contracted : 

 and absence of any soreness or thickening in the joint itself. 



What to do. — Spare no time nor pains to find the cause and remove it, 

 and the effect will cease. Ninety-nine times in a hundred it is only 

 symptomatic. In a great majority of cases the cause will be found in 

 the feet ; treat them, and the ankle will straighten up. 



