DISEASES. 697 



decubitus prolonged. In stepping out of the stable, both fore 

 feet are held stiffly, and kept close to the ground, the animal 

 stumbles on his fetlocks, and often falls, and one might suspect 

 him of being weak. In walking, his shoulders seem to be rigidly 

 attached to his body, but as he warms up the legs move more 

 freely and his actions become less limited ; but immediately on 

 cooling off, and especially the day following one of hard work, all 

 the symptoms reappear, with even aggravated intensity. The 

 disease increases steadily with the lapse of time. When one, or 

 what is more rarely the case, both hind feet are affected (Loiset 

 has seen it occur), the animal is stiff behind; he is lame on one or 

 both feet ; he puts his foot on the toe only ; knuckles at the fet- 

 lock; and presently an atrophy of the muscles of the superior 

 regions takes place. 



II. Progress^ Duration, Termination. — The disease gener- 

 ally maintains a steady progress ; nevertheless it very often un- 

 dergoes a remission, due to the hygienic conditions in which the 

 animal is placed; to the seasons; to the state of the atmosphere, 

 and to other causes. It may diminish in severity, and its symp- 

 toms disapi:»ear, while in its first period, if the animals are left at 

 rest — without shoes if possible — loose in a box, with damp bed- 

 ding, or in a marshy field ; or in winter, during the rainy season, 

 while the atmosphere continues in a moist condition for a long 

 period. It is, under these circumstances, not uncommon to see 

 feet which had become contracted quite recover their natural di- 

 mensions. Aside from these exceptional cases of recovery, the 

 lesion keeps on slowly destroying the tissues where it exists ; the 

 lameness remains constant, oi* becomes intermittent for years, 

 sometimes after the animals have become entirel}^ unfit for work 

 There are frequent complications involving the surrounding 

 parts ; sometimes a true arthritis, and besides the complete atro- 

 phy of the muscles of the shoulder, the carpal ligament becomes 

 thickened, the tendon of the perforans undergoes the same alter- 

 ation, and ring-bones and side-bones may follow. Again, how- 

 ever, the animal may become knuckled to such a degree that he 

 can scarcely rest his foot on the ground at all. 



III. Pathological Anatomy. — As we have said, the disease 

 has its seat in the sjTiovial capsule, formed by the small sesamoid 

 sheath between the navicular bone and the perforans tendon, slid- 

 ing upon it. At first may be observed a certain injection of the 



