WOUNDS AND BRUISES OF THE METACARPUS. 827 



latter are seldom serious, and heal when treated on general prin- 

 ciples. Injuries to the flexor tendons are, however, very dangerous. 



There is no difficulty in diagnosis, though it is not always easy 

 to discover the exact extent of the wound. Blood-vessels and nerves 

 may be divided, and bleeding usually demands first attention. The 

 degree of lameness varies. When the flexor pedis perforatus, which 

 is most exposed, is alone divided, it may only be slight, and weight 

 may be placed on the limb, though the fetlock is directed somewhat 

 forwards. Division of the flexor pedis perforans results in elevation 

 of t he toe and excessive dorsal flexion of the fetlock on every attempt 

 to stand on the limb. When the flexor tendons and suspensory 

 ligament are cut through the fetlock comes in contact with the 

 ground. 



After cessation of bleeding, the divided ends of the tendons may 

 be seen in the wound, and the extent of injury be determined by 

 palpation or by probing with the finger. Sometimes both tendons 

 are lacerated or partially divided, and frequently the perforatus is 

 severed and the perforans bruised. The position of the wound 

 generally indicates whether the sheath of the tendons has also been 

 opened or injured. 



Bruises of the metacarpus most frequently occur just below the 

 knee, and may lead to extravasation of blood or lymph. The 

 swelling varies in size, between a pigeon's and a hen's egg, is fluctu- 

 ating, but not often acutely inflamed, and seldom causes lameness. 



Course. Healing chiefly depends on the parts being kept aseptic. 

 When this is possible, wounds heal in two or three weeks, though if 

 pus formation occur they may take four to six weeks, or even months. 

 Injuries confined to the flexor pedis perforatus -naturally heal more 

 readily than those affecting both the flexors. Wounds involving the 

 flexor sheaths are exceedingly dangerous, purulent tendovaginitis 

 being common, especially in horses, and therefore, wounds close 

 a hove the fetlock or in the pastern region are more dangerous than 

 those in the middle of the metacarpus, where posteriorily the sheath 

 is wanting. In the ox the conditions are similar to those in horses, 

 though healing sometimes occurs without any particular precautions. 

 Gerlach saw complete division of the flexor pedis perforans and 

 perforatus in the cow, followed by cicatrisation in four weeks. For 

 some time there was very marked dorsal flexion, but this disappeared 

 in three months. In small animals injuries of this class generally 

 do better, because the limb can be better protected. 



Swelling due to bruising is usually indolent and persists for long 

 periods. This is particularly true of bruising over the head of the 



