358 SPRAIN OF THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 



descending to the ground and receding again the moment the feet 

 are lifted and the weight removed ; thus playing up and down, 

 through the operation of their suspensory springs, with most ad- 

 mirable effect in counteracting concussion, and so not only reliev- 

 ing the animal machine of all shake and shock, but conveying to 

 the rider upon it the most easy and pleasurable sensations. 

 Should more weight be thrown upon this spring than it is able to 

 bear, or should weight descend suddenly and unexpectedly upon 

 it at a time when such muscles as act in concert with it are un- 

 prepared to co-operate, then will it be liable to be sprained or to 

 sustain rupture or laceration of some of its connexions or fibres : 

 indeed, it is said, that under such circumstances its entire sub- 

 stance may be ruptured — actually torn asunder; though our 

 records are very barren of proofs of such accidents. 



The Causes of Sprain of the Suspensory Ligament will 

 be — injurious stress imposed upon it either through great burthen 

 upon the animal's back ; through the hard pace the horse is made 

 to go at; through high leaps or jumps off steep descents; through 

 compelling the animal to tread with unnatural force upon his 

 heels, by cutting away in shoeing the heels of the hoof, or put- 

 ting on his feet thin-heeled shoes when he has been accustomed 

 to thick-heeled ones. Of these several causes, however, it is the 

 muscular efforts he puts forth, at a time when he is made to strain 

 every sinew either in the hunting field or in the hard contested 

 race, that mostly occasion the mischief. All at once the suspen- 

 sory spring " cracks," i. e. gives way, and the horse is said to be 

 " broken down." 



The pathological Nature of Sprain of the Suspensory 

 Ligament is but rarely susceptible of demonstration. Unlike 

 ligaments proper, which from the uses they serve are necessarily 

 made inelastic, this being an elastic tissue, is capable of being 

 over-stretched or '* sprained" without necessarily sustaining lace- 

 ration or rupture of fibre ; though, as was observed before, lacera- 

 tion either of its own fibre or of that of the cellular tissue composing 

 its sheath appears extremely likely, in most instances, to take 

 place. It is possible, the ligament may be partially torn from its 

 attachment to the head of the cannon-bone; or the muscular .fibres. 



