530 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



have that property), is very liable to strains, especially in the hunter, and to 

 a less degree in the race-horse. On reference to pages 444, 448, the inferior 

 connections of this part will be seen to be the two sesamoid bones, by a 

 bifurcation of its substance, and as these bones support the pastern joints 

 by the inferior sesamoideal ligaments, when the suspensory ligament is 

 strained the whole apparatus is rendered useless, because the pain occasioned 

 by the extension of the upper part prevents the horse from putting his 

 weight upon the foot. The accident is readily made out, for there is local 

 swelling and tenderness, and in the well-bred horse, which is alone likely 

 to meet with a strain of this kind, the leg is rarely sufficiently gummy to 

 prevent the finger from making out the condition of the ligaments and 

 tendons. There is no giving way of the joints as in "break down," hut on 

 the contrary the leg is flexed, and if the case is a bad one, the toe only is 

 allowed to touch the ground. In ordinary cases, however, there is merely 

 slight swelling of the suspensor}' ligament in a limited spot usually near its 

 bifurcation, or sometimes in one division only, close above the sesamoid bone 

 to which it is attached. The horse can stand readily on that leg, but on 

 being trotted he limps a good deal. Sometimes, however, there is a swelling 

 of the part without lameness, but in this case the enlargement is generally 

 due to an effusion of serum into the cellular covering of the ligament, and 

 not to an actual strain of its fibres. The treatment will depend greatly 

 upon the extent of the mischief ; if there is no great injury done, and the 

 enlargement is chiefly from efTusion of serum, rest and cold applications by 

 means of bandages or otherwise will in the course of two or three months 

 effect a cure. Generally, however, the case will last six or eight months 

 before the ligament recovers its tone, and in a valuable horse no attempt 

 should be made to work him before that time. Where the swelling is 

 small, as it generally is, bandages have no power over it, as the projection 

 of the flexor tendons keeps the pressure off the injured part. Here, dipping 

 the leg in a bucket of water every hour will be of far more service than a 

 bandage, and the sudden shock of the cold water will be doubly efticacious. 

 After all heat has disappeared the biniodide of mercury may be used as a 

 blister two or three times, and then the horse may either be turned out, or 

 put into a loose box for three or four months, after which walking exercise 

 will complete the cure. 



STRAIN OF THE BACK SINEWS 



In this accident the position of the leg is the same as in strain of the 

 suspensory ligament, and there is no giving way of the joints. The flexor 

 tendons ai-e enlarged, hot, and tender, and there is great lameness, the horse 

 having the power to flex the joints below the knee, but resolutely objecting 

 to extend them, by bearing what little weight is unavoidable upon his toe. 

 The case is often confounded with a "break down," but it may readily be 

 distinguished by the fact that in the latter the joints give way on putting 

 the weight upon them, whilst in mere strains they do not, and the tendency 

 is to the opposite extreme. Frequently after a bad strain of the flexor 

 tendons, the fetlock is " over shot," or beyond the upright, in consequence 

 of the continued flexion of the joint, to prevent pressure upon the injured 



