118 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



but it may be white. Treat with any milk ointment to lubricate the 

 skin, hand-rub, etc. 



Sprain of the Flexor Tendons, so called, is not, in many cases, a 

 sprain of these tendons, but of the 



Metacarpal Ligaments.— This is very common in race-horses, and in 

 horses pulling heavy loads, especially if they have high-toed shoes. It is 

 not common in ordinary driving horses. It is produced by violent exer- 

 tion of some kind or other ; the most prolific cause is fast galloping, or 

 in pulling up hill with a heavy load. 



Symptoms are generally tolerably plain. An exudation takes place 

 between the fibres of the ligament or around the ligament ; there is more 

 or less swelling, ; the horse is lame to a greater or less extent ; after 

 standing, lameness disappears more or less. Although it involves the 

 tendons, it will be found to be anterior to them ; and there is pain upon 

 pressure, and flexing the limb increases the pain, and this may be over- 

 looked if there is much hair upon the legs. If the animal is kept at 

 work, the exudation increases and the animal endeavours to relieve itself 

 by flexing the limb. The exudation becomes organized and the tendon 

 shortens, and the animal walks upon the front of the hoof. This is more 

 likely to take place in a heavy work horse than in a light, as a light 

 horse would be laid off work and a heavy one would not. 



Sprain of the Back Tendons takes place in the same way, and is 

 also more likely to occur in fast or heavy work horses. It is frequent in 

 race horses. It is usually produced by violent exertion. Horses having 

 a bound-down formation of the limb, as it is called, are more liable to it. 

 An animal long and weak below the knee, or standing unnaturally back 

 — calf-kneed, as it is called — is more likely than spring-kneed. I would 

 rather have a horse knee-sprung than calf-kneed. These sprains may be 

 slight or severe, and may be suddenly produced. There will be more or 

 less exudation around and in between the fibres, snd if the cause is kept 

 up it will become severe. The fibres will give way and give rise to thick- 

 ening of the tendons, and they will contract and cause the horse to walk 

 on the toe. 



Symptoms. — More or less swelling ; and flexing or extending the limb 

 will increase the pain and cause more lameness when trotted out. 



Treatment is just the same, whether it is the ligament or the ten- 

 don, and must vary according to th« time you are called. If called 

 immediately, apply cold water and refrigerants, and bandage judi- 

 ciously to prevent the exudation Keep up the applications for one 

 or two hours, and watch the bandage closely, for if swelling takes 

 place, it may interfere with the circulation. After some time apply 

 a blister, but in some cases just cold water and bandaging will 

 do. The animal will be able for any kind of work, but if for fast 

 work, give a long rest. If you are not called until the exudation has 

 taken place, and great pain is present, then use hot applications, bandage 

 and use anodyne liniments; and, after the irritation subsides, blister, 

 and repeat in perhaps two or three weeks. It requires not only weeks, 

 but months, or even a year, to recover so as to undergo severe work. 

 You would better recommend a valuable animal rested for six months or 

 a year, than to put him to work in two or three weeks. You may derive 

 benefit from the firing iron, and it is necessary now and again, but it can 

 generally be treated without it. The result of the injuries I have men- 

 tioned is 



Contraction of the Tendons, in which the horse walks upon the toe, 

 allowing the foot to grow out of shape. The only chances of bringing 

 the parts into their natural condition is tenotomy, that is if the contrac- 



