HIP- JOINT LAMENESS. 293 



bony material. If the severe symptoms do not soon abate, 

 the practitioner will understand that the above pathological 

 changes are going on, and that the horse will remain incurably 

 lame. 



The symptoms of a milder form of hip-joint lameness, and 

 of that arising from disease of the trochanter, do not differ in 

 any peculiarity of gait. There is a hop and a catch in the lame 

 limb, and a want of movement in the quarter, which to a prac- 

 tised eye is quite suggestive. The whole of the quarter on the 

 lame side is elevated with as little motion of the hip as possible; 

 the other articulations being flexed with ease. While standing, 

 the foot of the lame limb in severe cases will often be elevated 

 from the ground ; the muscles below the seat of disease exert- 

 ing themselves, as it were, to support the weight, and thus 

 allowing the gluteals to be in a state of relaxation. In hip- 

 joint lameness heat may be felt, and pain caused, in some cases, 

 by pressure applied per rectum. In trochanteric lameness, a 

 distinct swelling can be detected, both by touch and sight, 

 upon the quarter. In both forms, atrophy of the muscles of 

 the quarter soon manifests itself, and is apt to lead the prac- 

 titioner to confound the disease with fracture; but in disease 

 the wasting and inequality of the quarter appear after the 

 animal has been lame for some little time, whilst in fracture 

 they are seen immediately after the displacement of the bones. 



The swelling of trochanteric lameness is of an irregular 

 roundish shape, on the very point of what is erroneously called 

 the hip-joint ; hot to the touch, and painful upon pressure. To 

 see it distinctly, the practitioner should stand both behind and 

 at the side of the patient, as the shades of light sometimes hide 

 it from observation. 



In the treatment of either form, the high-heeled shoe is 

 to be put on the foot, to enable the parts to be maintained in 

 a state of repose. The patient requires a long rest, since the 

 lameness is very apt to return ; and in this, as well as in other 

 lamenesses, treatment should be resorted to, and rest imposed, 

 before alteration of structure has taken place. Even when all 

 signs of lameness have disappeared, great care must be taken 

 not to work the animal too soon. 



The horses most subject to this lameness are those which draw 

 heavy loads, and care must be taken tliat they are not forced 



