532 THE DISEASES OF THE HORSE 



the tibia. Whichever part of the suspensory apparatus is gone (whether 

 the superior or inferior sesamoidal ligament is immaterial), the fetlock and 

 pastern joints lose their whole inelastic support ; and the flexor tendons, 

 together with their ligamentous fibres which they receive from the carpus, 

 giving way, as they must do, to allow of the accident taking place, the toe 

 is turned up, and the fetlock joint bears upon the ground. This is a com- 

 plete " break down " ; but there are many cases in which the destruction of 

 the ligamentous fibres is not complete, and the joint, though much lowered, 

 does not actually touch the ground. These are still called breaks down, and 

 must be regarded as such, and as quite distinct from strains of the flexor 

 tendons. The accident generally occurs in a tired horse, when the flexor 

 muscles do not continue to support the ligaments, from which circumstance 

 it so often happens in the last few strides of a race. The symptoms are a 

 partial or entire giving way of the fetlock joint downwards, so that the back 

 of it either touches the ground or nearly so, when the weight is thrown 

 upon it. Usually, however, after the horse is pulled up, he hops on three 

 legs, and refuses altogether to put that which is broken down to the ground. 

 In a very few minutes the leg " fills " at the seat of the accident, and be- 

 comes hot and very tender to the touch. There can, therefore, be no doubt 

 as to the nature of the mischief, and the confusion to which allusion has 

 been made is one of names rather than of facts. Treatment can only bo 

 directed to a partial recovery from this accident, for a horse broken down 

 in the sense in which the term is here used can only be used for stud pur- 

 poses or at slow farm work. A patten shoe should at once be put on, and 

 then fomentations followed by cold lotions should be applied, as directed in 

 the last section. As there must necessarily be a deformity of the leg, there 

 can be no objection on that score to firing, and when the severe inflammation 

 following the accident has subsided this operation should be thoroughly 

 performed, so as to afford relief not only by the counter-irritation which is 

 set up, and which lasts only for a time, but by the rigid and unyielding case 

 which it leaves behind for a series of years. 



STRAINS OF THE HIP JOINT, STIFLE, AND HOCK 



The hip joint, or round bone, is liable to be strained by the hind-feet 

 slipping and being stretched apart, or by blows against the side of the stall, 

 when cast, which are not sufficient to dislocate the femur, but strain its 

 ligaments severely. The consequence is an inflammation of the joint, which 

 is evidenced by a dropping of one hip in going, the weight being thrown 

 more upon the sound side than upon the other. This is especially remarkable 

 on first starting, the lameness soon going off in work, but x-eturning after rest. 

 The case, however, is a rare one, and its description need not, therefore, 

 occupy much of our space. When it does happen, it is very apt to lead to 

 a wasting of the deep muscles of the haunch, which nothing but compulsory 

 work will restore to a healthy condition. The only treatment necessary in 

 the early stage of strain of the hip joint is rest and cooling diet, etc.; but, 

 after six weeks or two months, a gradual return to work is indispensable to 

 effect a cure. 



Strains op the stifle, independently of blows, are rare ; but the latter 



