SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK JOINT. .%! 



import here than in an ordinary tendinous sheath, caused, as in 

 the case in front, by the inflammation to which the sprain has 

 given rise, spreading from cellular tissue — in which it commonly 

 has its origin — to bursal and other contiguous structures. Further 

 than this general description goes, it is extremely difficult, if not 

 impossible, to define what parts, in a joint made up of so many as 

 the fetlock is, are most or especially diseased, and in what disease 

 in its several stages precisely consists. Every opportunity af- 

 forded for dissection of the parts in a state of lesion or disease 

 must necessarily enlarge our knowledge of this department of pa- 

 thology ; but, unfortunately, opportunity comes too rarely to make 

 our advancement of the kind so great or so rapid as could be 

 desired. 



The Treatment proper for this sprain will be best learnt by 

 the stud}^ of that which I have recommended for " sprain of the 

 flexor tendons;" it being borne in mind that, in respect to the high 

 or thick heeled shoe, such must not be used in any case where the 

 anterior parts of the fetlock are the seats of disease — as in the fore 

 leg — rather than the posterior. I would also remark that, though 

 soundness come to be restored by the use of fomentations and em- 

 brocations and bandages, and, if requisite, of blood-letting from the 

 toe of the foot, it is but seldom that such soundness can be regarded 

 as permanently to be relied upon. In general, fetlock lamenesses, 

 to guard against the recurrence of them, have, at the conclusion 

 of their primary treatment, to undergo blistering or firing Now 

 and then, the tartarized antimony ointment, or the ointment of the 

 deuto-ioduret of mercury, may be employed, instead of blistering or 

 firing, successfully. Though but small, if any, advantage, in point 

 of time, is to be obtained by either of these substitutes ; since either 

 ointment used as repeatedly as requisite will cause the hair and 

 cuticle to come off, and thus the time their operation requires to pro- 

 duce full effect will not be much less than a blister would occupy. 



The following observations, penned many years ago by Pro- 

 fessor Dick, of the Edinburgh Veterinary School, did not meet my 

 eye in time for insertion in their proper place : — " It is generally 

 considered as an established pathological fact, that, in those injuries 

 commonly designated strains of tendons, the injury is confined to 



VOL. IV. 3 a 



