RUPTURE OP BICEPS MUSCLE. 771 



otherwise recovery occupies several months, and chronic lameness 

 is apt to remain ; treatment is, therefore, only advisable in valuable 

 horses. If the local symptoms are slight, if weight is still placed on 

 the foot, and if lameness is not severe, recovery may be looked for 

 in six to eight weeks, but sometimes takes several months. 



In chronic bursitis, prognosis is even less favourable, though 

 the disease takes a slower course, and the animals continue to some 

 extent useful. 



Treatment must follow general principles, being guided by the 

 existing changes. In acute bursitis, it comprises absolute rest, cold 

 applications (best in the form of ice poultices), or permanent irrigation 

 with cold water ; as the pain diminshes, warm moist applications, 

 at a later stage counter irritants (blisters and firing) should be tried. 



Dieterichs says that in horses lameness is sometimes caused by dislo- 

 cation of the biceps muscle. Such a case never occurred in Moller's 

 practice, nor did Hertwig, even in his extensive practice of so many years, 

 see one. Dieterichs's description leaves it doubtful whether the condition 

 occurs, and the same may be said of Becker and Dominic's cases. From 

 the latter's statement, it is clear that the scapula was displaced, but probably 

 from muscular rupture. 



Rupture of both biceps muscles was seen in a fourteen- year- old gelding 

 which had suddenly gone lame. The region of the shoulder- joint was 

 swollen and painful. The condition somewhat improved, and the horse 

 was put to light work ; but four months later, after being driven about two 

 miles, became suddenly much worse, and appeared to have lost control of 

 both fore-limbs. It was placed in slings, but gradually wasted, whilst the 

 thorax sank between the shoulders, so that four weeks after the last attack 

 the withers were 4 \ inches lower than before. The sternum reached to 

 the lower half of the fore- arm, and the scapula lay in an almost horizontal 

 position. Both shoulder- joints were greatly swollen, but not painful. The 

 animal's movement was passable, though it often stumbled. Post-mortem 

 showed extensive periostitis around the shoulder-joint. Instead of the 

 coracoid process, there only existed on the scapula a roughened spot, the 

 biceps muscles of both sides were torn away from their scapular insertions, 

 and their tendons thickened (Nesbit). 



V.— INFLAMMATION OF THE TENDON OF THE POSTEA-SPINATUS 

 MUSCLE AND OF ITS BURSA. 



On the external tuberosity of the humerus above the point of 

 insertion of the outer tendon of the postea-spinatus muscle, is a 

 bursa, which, with the tendon, sometimes becomes inflamed. 

 K. Giinther first drew attention to this affection, and showed that 

 it may be caused by bruises, kicks, collisions, falls, or by strain of 

 the tendon. When horses with narrow chests and closely-placed 

 fore-legs are used for fast-trotting work this tendon may become 



