SPRAIN OF THE FLEXOR METATARSI. 289 



if in high condition, may cause sprain of the flexor meta- 

 tarsi. 



Si/m,pfoms. — The symptoms of this condition are very 

 peculiar. Shortly after the injury is received the muscle 

 loses its power of contraction to a great extent, and the 

 opposing muscles at the back of the limb, retaining their 

 contractile power and meeting with no opposition, cause 

 the limb to fly upward and ba3kward with great violence, 

 where it remains and hangs dangling as though broken. 

 When the limb is brought forward, and the foot placed 

 upon the ground, the animal stands firmly upon it, and 

 apparently without any difficulty, but on endeavouring to 

 take a step, or as soon as the weight of the animal is 

 removed from the aff'ected limb, it flies back, and hangs 

 dangling as before. If the tendinous portion or insertions 

 of the muscle are injured, the animal should be destroyed ; 

 but if the injury be confined to the fleshy portions of the 

 muscle, treatment may be employed with a fliir prospect of 

 success. 



Treatinent. — Hot or cold applications are to be used fre- 

 quently, and long at a time. After the irritation, swelling, 

 etc., are allayed, mild stimulating liniments may be freely 

 used, or what will be found of still greater benefit, vesi- 

 cants, applied as may seem judicious, and a liniment 

 stimulating or anodyne, may also be used. Total rest is 

 absolutely necessary. If the animal is fed well and pro- 

 perly cared for, a complete cure will usually result in about 

 a, month or six weeks ; but in cases where the tendinous 

 portions of the muscle are aff'ected, the cure will take 

 much longer, if it can be effected at all. 



Gastrocnemii. — Injuries to the gastrocnemii muscles occa- 

 sionally take place, occurring in various ways. 



Symptoms. — In this lesion the limb also hangs pendulous, 

 the symptoms being very similar to those of the condition 



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