THE ROUND AND PUBIO-FEMORAL LIGAMENTS 



131 



to move, and there will be evidences of intense pain if the head of the 

 femur be pressed into the cotyloid cavity by applying the palm of the 

 hand over the great trochanter. The animal is unable to lie down, 

 and the muscles of the quarter rapidly atrophy. In addition, the 

 temperature becomes elevated and the patient declines to feed. 



Owing to the fact that the injured structures are so deeply seated, 

 little can be done, and the disease usually becomes chronic. Post- 

 mortem examination of chronic cases commonly reveals changes in the 

 surrounding structures. MoUer reports that " in a horse which had 

 suffered from hip lameness for more than a year, the hip joint was 

 found to be surrounded by fibrous connective tissue and to exhibit 

 periarticular osteophytes, the synovial membrane was about two inches 

 in thickness, the articular cartilage had partly disappeared from the 

 cotyloid cavity, and its edges were undergoing degenerative change." 



Osseous deposits are frequently found, both in the cotyloid cavity 

 and on the articular head of the femur, and these are accumulated in 

 the non-articular area of the acetabulum and in the sulcus on the femur, 

 to which areas, it will be remembered, the round ligament is attached. 

 The ligaments may be found to present lacerations, or they may be greatly 

 increased in thickness. A peculiar feature is that anchylosis of the joint 

 rarely if ever occurs in these cases, for cases have been observed in 

 which the bony deposit alm.ost completely filled up the cotyloid cavity, 

 and yet the bones remained separate. 



As already stated, treatment is of little use. During the process of 

 observation a certain amount of relief may be afforded the patient by 

 applying a high-heeled shoe, since by this means the tension on the 

 parts is eased. 



