832 RUPTURE OF THB FLEXOR TENDONS LND SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 



especially by violent over-extension when weight is thrown on the 

 fore limb; it is therefore almost entirely confined to solipeds, the 

 great strains oecessary for its produqtion only occurring during 

 movements like jumping or galloping. In ruminants a ligament, 

 extending from the knee to the claws, assists in preventing 

 such accidents. Rupture' is favoured by changes in the nutrition 

 o\' the tendons, as after neurectomy and infectious disease, and 

 even after long rest rupture may follow slight exertion. Sometimes 



Pig. 476. —Rupture of the flexor pedis perforana and perforatua tendons. 



partial or complete section of one or both flexor tendons is produced 

 by the borse "over-reaching"' when galloping on holding ground. 



Schellhase and Comeny saw simultaneous rupture of the inferior sesamoid 

 ligaments of both fore limbs in horses which had been long rested. 

 Johne also observed rupture of this ligament in a foal which had been 

 in hospital, and as the rupture was accompanied by tearing away of 

 portions of bone, suggested it was due to change in the hone substance. 

 In another case the superior sesamoid ligament was ruptured near its 

 bifurcation in a horse which had fallen. Smith describes a case where, in 



