INFLAMMATION OF THE FLEXOR TENDONS. 839 



similar conditions prevail when the horse is drawing a load up a 

 steep hill. The injury occurs during relaxation of the perforans 

 muscle. In the hind limbs the portions of the flexor pedis perforans 

 tendon which suffer oftenest are those lying just above the fetlock 

 or below the hock. 



Bruising causes inflammation of tendons, though the condition 

 more often affects the flexor perforatus, its superficial situation 

 exposing it to injury from kicks, &c. This kind of injury has been 

 repeatedly seen in hunting- and race- horses, where the tendon is 

 struck and sometimes divided by the hind foot of the same side. In- 

 flammation sometimes extends from the tendon sheath or articular 

 surfaces to the flexor tendons ; and the form associated with 

 infectious disease, and occurring during convalescence from influenza, 

 always starts in the tendon sheath. Schrader, who carefully 

 described this disease, found that the first sign of inflammation is a 

 peculiar semi-soft swelling just above the fetlock, which extends 

 thence to the perforans and perforatus tendons. One-sixth of all 

 his cases convalescent from influenza showed it, but the disease 

 disappeared again in a few days. Moller has often seen a similar 

 appearance, and looks on such cases as due to secretory metastasis. 

 In convalescents the inflammation sometimes originates in the 

 perforans tendon, particularly when the animals are worked too 

 early. The interference with general nutrition produced during 

 the disease is probably the predisposing cause. 



The greater number of cases described as inflammation of the 

 tendons are, doubtless, really due to reparative processes consequent 

 on partial rupture, as shown by their course and termination. The 

 persistence of thickening points to extensive damage, and is 

 therefore unfavourable. This extra deposit appears to be necessary 

 to recovery, but tendons thus thickened never attain their primary 

 strength or condition. 



Filariosis of the suspensory and perforatus has been observed 

 in Austria, Russia, and France. The parasite (Filaria reticulata) 

 causes the formation of painless nodular enlargements, which may 

 be mistaken for chronic distensions of the ligament or tendon. 



Symptoms. Inflammation of the flexor tendons is accompanied 

 by the following symptoms : — 



(1) Lameness, which varies according to the position and extent 

 of injury and the tendon involved. Lameness and pain are most 

 marked in strain of the perforans or its check ligament, less marked 

 in strain of the perforatus or its ligament. In strain of the suspensory 

 usually pain and lameness are slight, and when only one division 



