CARPITIS. 267 



The characters are very much akin to those of shoulder lame- 

 ness, from which, however, it may be readily distinguished — • 

 first, by the circumductive manner in which the leg is thrown 

 forwards, and the straight knee; secondly, by the absence of the 

 dragging of the whole limb ; thirdly, by the stepping on the 

 heels, and the greater firmness on standing ; but one of the best 

 guides perhaps in diagnosis is the expression of pain when the 

 affected joint is forcibly flexed or extended, and noting which 

 joint is attempted to be least brought into use during action. 



Mr. Cherry says — " I am disposed to a belief that there is in 

 some horses a hereditary idiosyncrasy to this disease ; be this 

 as it may, half-bred are much more prone to it than thorough- 

 bred horses." 



The inflammation and its consequences may be confined to 

 one of the articulations of the carpus, more particularly to that 

 between the trapezoid and inner small metacarpal ; or the dis- 

 ease may involve several, or all of the carpal articulations. 



The morbid condition of the joint may consist of simple 

 inflammation, terminating, by proper treatment, in restoration, 

 or inflammation associated with ulceration of the articular car- 

 tilage, caries of the bones, and a deposition of osseous matter 

 external to and around the diseased portion, constituting anchy- 

 losis. — (See Photo-lithograph, Plate III., Fig. 3). 



The inflammation being deep-seated in the bones, or synovial 

 membranes, is not accompanied by much external heat; and 

 the articulations of the knee, with their synovial membranes 

 and capsular ligaments, being small and incapable of contain- 

 ing much synovia, account for the absence of external swelling 

 until there is a deposition of osseous matter. 



In many young horses, especially when they are first put to 

 work, we meet with an occult lameness which is most puzzling. 

 There is no heat, swelling, nor pain upon pressure in any part 

 of the limb or foot. The animal is moderately sound when it 

 first comes out of the stable in the morning, but shows signs of 

 increased lameness after being at work for a short time. In such 

 cases, the practitioner cannot be far wrong in pronouncing the 

 lameness to be in the bones of, or adjacent to, the knee-joint. 



The osseous deposits arising from carpitis, when not caused 

 by the fumes of metals, are generally situated on the inner side 

 of the joint. This is due to the bones being here more under 



