INJURIES, ETC., BELOW THE KNEE. 269 



trotters, and horses doing fast work, and more especially 

 where they run on hard tracks, as they do on the American 

 continent. In England, where horses run on the soft 

 and yielding turf, break-downs are comparatively rare. It 

 may also occur in heavy horses drawing a heavy load, and 

 more especially if they are weak limbed, are shod with 

 high-toed shoes, and are in the habit of slipping, or making 

 false steps, etc. 



Sijmptoms. — The symptoms vary to a considerable degree, 

 in accordance with the extent or nature of the injury. If 

 one of the branches forming the bifurcation be ruptured, 

 partial descent takes place, and the fetlock leans to the side 

 of the ruptured portion of the tendon, being lower on the 

 side formerly supported by the ruptured branch. If the 

 rupture be complete, the fetlock will descend in many cases 

 nearly to the ground. In many instances where the branch of 

 one side only is ruptured , there may be slight lam eness, swelling, 

 otc, which disappear on applying cold water, etc., for a day 

 or two. The irritation being allayed, the animal is put back to 

 his former fast work, and comes completely down, the liga- 

 ment snapping, probably on the first severe gallop he is put to; 

 and when this takes place the limb never regains its former 

 ■condition, but is always weak. However, it is wonderful the 

 amount of slow work such an animal is capable of doing, 

 and how strong he will become on the limb as time pro- 

 gresses ; but it is useless to expect such an animal ever to do 

 fast work. 



Treatment. — A very long rest is essential, and without it 

 all other treatment will avail nothing. Cold and hot 

 applications should be freely used, according to the season 

 of the year. Anodyne liniments may also be employed in 

 conjunction with the previously mentioned applications, to 

 allay irritation. After pain and irritation are allayed, 

 counter-irritants, as the ungt. hydrarg. biniod., stimulating 



