336 CURB. 



and this probably pervades cellular tissue and bursa together. 

 This is accompanied — indeed is caused — by inflammation of the 

 parts, which account for the heat, and for the pain or lameness. The 

 circumstance of inflammation not immediately following the acci- 

 dent accounts for lameness not shewing itself in all cases at first. 

 Indeed, in some cases the injury sustained appears too slight to bring 

 it on : palpable curb exists and yet the horse remains all the while 

 perfectly sound. What ultimately takes place in curb, and, in fact, 

 constitutes the disease in the ordinary, inveterate, or permanent form 

 — being the consequence of interstitial deposit — is a hard, callous 

 condition of the tumour, and this is the state in which horses are 

 bro ught to us after inflammation has departed. It consists in a thick- 

 ened and indurated condition of the cellular sheath of the tendons. 

 Therefore, when we come to dissect curb in this, the usual state of 

 parts, what we find is this : We first cut through the skin cover- 

 ing the tumour. This exposes the annular ligament ; underneath 

 which is the consolidated and thickened sheath, fibrous perhaps in 

 composition, altogether changed in aspect and texture from what it 

 was, and measuring, as I have seen it, half-an-inch across in solid 

 substance. A curb, therefore, might very properly be said to con- 

 sist in hypertrophy of the sheath of the flexor tendons. Doubt- 

 less, there occur 



Other morbid Appearances. — Diseased action may conti- 

 nue, or return, or be reproduced, and so give rise to such. Mr. 

 Mayhew found the tendon of the perforans muscle " perceptibly 

 enlarged," shewing " indications of an inflammatory condition." 

 He cut into it, *' and from the incision pressure caused to exude 

 a thick dark-coloured pus, of the consistence of cream cheese*." 

 The case being one of chronic date, and subject to the suspicion of 

 taint from a malignant disease present, will perhaps be viewed 

 rather in the light of a condition inveterate curb may run on to, than 

 as affording an example of the ordinary pathology of the disease. 



In a hock I myself dissected, supposed from its outward appear- 

 ance to harbour a curb, I found a thorn, half an inch in length, 

 sticking in the substance of the perforatus tendon, precisely in the 

 seat of curb. 



• See Veteeinarian, vol. xx, p. 15. 



