LACERATION OF FLEXOR METATARSI MUSCLE. 



297 



hock, midway between it and the patella. The horse being old 

 and not of much value, the owner, at the suggestion of Mr. 

 Cunningham, sent him to the College for dissection, when it 



Fig. 49. 



was discovered that the flexor metatarsi was lacerated across 

 its whole thickness, at a point corresponding to the external 

 swelling; its fibres were pale, and when examined under the 

 microscope their tranverse strise were nearly, and in some 

 places entirely, absent, showing that the sarcous elements w^ere 

 undergoing degeneration. I have met with other instances of 

 the same lesion, but never had the opportunity of making a dis- 

 section of the parts prior to this. As to the probability of 

 repair, I think that, provided the animal be not too old, the 

 chances of recovery are very good, and that in the course of 

 time reunion of the divided muscle may be expected; but 

 should the horse be old, or of a weak constitution, the pro- 

 babilities are that the rupture is a result of degenerative 

 disease of the muscular tissue, and not a mere accident, and 



