SPRAINS. 241 



Fractures of individual bones are numerous and serious. 

 An experienced veterinary surgeon should always be con- 

 sulted. 



SPRAINS. 



Sprains may be classed as injuries; and a very common 

 one is that of the ligaments or tendons of the fore-lee:. 



Tendons and ligaments are formed of strong fibres ; and 

 when some of these are unduly stretched and broken, inflam- 

 mation sets in, and we have heat, pain, and more or less 

 swelling, according to the severity of the injury. If pressure 

 be applied to the swelling, the horse shows pain, but so he will 

 if it arises from a blow or a kick; therefore, such swellings 

 should not be too hastily called sprains ; and the owner of the 

 animal would do well to wait a day or two before coming to a 

 decision. If the swelling arises from a blow, the pain will 

 soon begin to disappear, and the enlargement to diminish. 

 Sometimes the swelling ''pits " on pressure of the fingers, and 

 by this symptom an experienced veterinary surgeon can almost 

 always give a correct opinion. 



There is a ligament which arises from the back of the knee, 

 and is inserted into the flexor tendon, called the " perforans," 

 about half way between the knee and fetlock. This ligament, 

 named the " metacarpal," is strong, and may be said to brace 

 up the leg, and greatly help it to bear the violent strain it is 

 continually sustaining during rapid progression. This meta- 

 carpal ligament is often sprained, and the symptoms are a 

 painful swelling and lameness. There is also another painful 

 ligament arising behind the lower part of the knee, called the 

 " great suspensory ligament." It runs down behind the cannon 

 bone, and just above the fetlock it bifurcates or divides into 

 two branches, each of which is attached to the sesamoid bone 

 on its own side, and then continues downwards and forwards 

 until it reaches the front of the pastern, where it becomes 

 Q 



