296 PARTICULAR LAMENESSES. 



ment arising from the parts being thrown into a state of rest 

 and relaxation is soft, and disappears when the horse is made to 

 stand firmly. 



Professor Dick said that stifle-joint lameness could be detected 

 by pressing upon either side of the internal lateral ligament, and 

 that a swelling could be felt caused by the distension of the 

 capsular ligament with synovia. I have never been able to con- 

 firm this, and have been compelled to be satisfied with negative 

 symptoms and the gait. 



Relaxation of the patella arises from sprain and inflammation 

 of the lateral ligaments, which thus become elongated and allow 

 of partial dislocation of the patella. The symptoms and treat- 

 ment are similar to those recommended for luxation (described 

 at page 143, which see). 



The muscles of the stifle are subject to cramp, the symptoms 

 being very similar to those of dislocation of the patella, the 

 limb being extended and fixed to the ground. It is also often 

 seen in dogs. It comes on and goes off suddenly. I have 

 known such to arise from indigestion, and the liability to its 

 return to be completely removed by one or two doses of 

 purgative medicine and alteration of diet. 



Subcutaneous laceration of the flexor metatarsi muscle is occa- 

 sionally a cause of lameness. Professor Dick had seen some- 

 thing of it. He used to refer to it in his lectures as presenting 

 symptoms similar to paralysis of the gastrocnemii. He used to 

 say that when the flexor metatarsi muscle, any muscles situated 

 at the anterior part of the stifle or the gastrocnemii were injured, 

 the tendo-achilles fell into a relaxed condition when the limb 

 was elevated from the ground. 



Figure 49 is from life, drawn by Professor Vaughan, wlien 

 a student of the College. The horse was an ill-looking 

 long-legged cart-horse, very subject to rheumatic attacks, for 

 which Mr. Cunningham of Slateford had repeatedly attended 

 him. Towards the end of 1871 he was found one morning to 

 be very lame, and when he attempted to move, the near hind 

 leg was thrown upwards and backwards with great violence ; at 

 the same time the tendo-achilles was seen to fall into a num- 

 ber of folds. Upon the limb being elevated by the hand, the 

 same seemingly powerless condition of the gastrocnemii was 

 observed. The limb was swollen above and in front of the 



