268 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



SPRAIN OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 



The suspensory ligament keeps tlie limb in its upright 

 position. Sprain of this ligament is by no means un- 

 common, and when it takes place the animal should be 

 allowed to rest until perfectly recovered. It is usually 

 met with amongst horses of fast work, as racehorses, 

 hunters, etc., and there is no such thing as complete 

 recovery taking place while the animal is kept at work. 

 If worked as usual the chances are that it will terminate in 

 break-down, and the animal be rendered useless for all but 

 slow work. 



Treatment. — The treatment is simple, consisting of 

 plenty of rest and the use of hot or cold applications, 

 according to the season. The limb may be bandaged also 

 for a time, and if thought necessary a mild vesicant may be 

 applied. Stimulant and anodyne liniments will also be 

 found very useful. After all sign of lameness has dis- 

 appeared, the animal should be given a long rest to allow 

 time for total recovery to take place, and to guard against the 

 danger of rupture of the tendon or complete break-down. 



RUPTURE OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 



Break-down consists of rupture of the suspensory liga- 

 ment. It is just about the bifurcation of the ligament 

 that rupture takes place, and break-down is described 

 as partial and complete, partial being where one branch is 

 ruptured, and complete where both branches forming the 

 bifurcation are ruptured. In this latter form the fetlock- 

 joint descends nearly to, or in some cases reaches the ground. 

 It is a far more serious condition than sprain of the 

 ligament, and in every case where complete break-down 

 takes place it permanently incapacitates the animal for fast 

 work. It is of greatest frequency amongst racehorses, 



