980 DISEASES OF THE LEG. 



leg, and the ends of the tendon retract comparatively little, union 

 is seldom difficult. Judging by the many reported cases, union is 

 almost always complete in four to eight weeks, even when both legs 

 are affected, though one case in a riding-horse lasted for three months. 

 In rare instances recovery does not occur, or is so incomplete as to 

 impair the movement of the hock. These depend on the position 

 of the rupture and on the animal not being rested sufficiently long. 

 Where the tendon is divided in the bursa, or torn away from its point 

 of origin on the femur (a rare occurrence), recovery is less assured, 

 because formation of new tissue remains incomplete, the paratendineum 

 essential to union being absent from the tendon sheath and bursa. 

 It is somewhat doubtful whether in Goubaux's case the tendinous or 

 the muscular portion of the flexor metatarsi was torn away; the 

 point is of little importance. Probably it was the tendinous portion, 

 because muscle is very rarely torn away from its insertion into bone. 

 H. Bouley reports similar cases. As a rule even when the tendon 

 is torn away from its insertion the case finally recovers, though it 

 lasts as many months as the other weeks, and slaughter may be 

 preferable to treatment. 



Partial recovery is one of the results of putting the horse to work 

 before union is complete ; the newly-formed cicatricial tissue gradually 

 becomes strained and the tendon lengthened, necessarily causing 

 permanent lameness. Excessive extension of the hock, which some- 

 times occurs during the early stages of union, disappears completely 

 with time. A few cases have completely recovered in twenty -five 

 days ; probably the tendon was only partially ruptured. 



Treatment is confined to resting the limb. The ends of the fibrous 

 cord are rarely far displaced, and reunion is not difficult. The 

 animal should be kept perfectly quiet for four to six weeks, should be 

 placed on a level surface, and not receive too much bedding. Work 

 protracts recovery, though in isolated cases union occurs despite it ; 

 it always takes a long time, however, and may remain incomplete, 

 the tendon becoming elongated and the action permanently 

 impaired. In horses of any value rest is indispensable. Blistering 

 over the course of the affected muscle is unnecessary, and only serves 

 to secure rest. Work can be resumed as soon as lameness disappears. 



V.—RUPTURE OF THE TENDO ACHILLIS AND GASTROCNEMII 

 MUSCLES. 



Ruptures of the gastrocnemii muscles and of the Achilles tendon 

 are much rarer in animals than rupture of the flexor metatarsi. They 



