SPRAIN OF FLEXOR TENDONS. 275 



hold on the ground, and thus prove an advantage when very- 

 heavy loads are to be moved, more especially in hilly districts, 

 but this very advantage of grip becomes a cause of lameness, 

 from the fact that it has to be overcome by the active organs of 

 locomotion. 



When a ligament or tendon is inflamed, an exudation takes 

 place both within and external to its substance. That within 

 the structure, or the inter-fibrous exudate, separates the fibres 

 from each other, causes them to diverge from the straight line, 

 and thus the ligament or tendon becomes shortened ; hence we 

 find that in this strain a horse is unable to bring the heel of 

 the foot to the ground. This shortening, particularly during 

 the early stages, is increased by the muscles being kept in a 

 contracted condition, to relieve the inflamed part from tension ; 

 but after a time descent of the heel is rendered an impossibility 

 by adhesions and actual shortening from organic change in 

 the non-active structures (the tendons and ligaments) of loco- 

 motion. 



Symptoms. — There will be heat and swelling in the part; 

 very often, during the earlier stages, the ligament can be felt 

 swollen, prominent, and bulging, the tendons themselves being 

 quite normal; when pressed upon, the horse evinces pain ; stands 

 with the leg upright, and moves it stiffly, digging his toe into 

 the ground. When in the hind leg, flexion is very imperfectly 

 performed ; he seems to throw the limb behind him as he lifts 

 it from the ground, and the fetlock and hock are not flexed as 

 in sound action. When the tendons themselves are involved 

 they will be found swollen upwards and downwards from the 

 seat of the original injury; and this extension of the swelling 

 prevents their gliding through their thecse, particularly the thecee 

 situated in the carpal or tarsal fossae. 



To detect veiy slight sprains, especially if situated in a hind 

 leg, it will often be necessary to compare the thickness of both 

 legs by careful manipulation, as the swelling can only be de- 

 tected in that way, on account of the coarse hair and thick skin 

 of cart-horses' legs. In the better bred animal, a difference in 

 the thickness can be easily seen as well as felt. 



The special treatment required for this lameness is the appli- 

 cation of the high-heeled shoe, in order to throw the tendons 

 into a state of relaxation, and a long period of rest. In chronic 



