DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 329 



or may have been more or less extensively lacerated. It seldom hap- 

 pens that more than one toe at a time will turn up, yet still the lesion 

 in one will be followed by its occurrence in another. Commonl}^ two 

 feet, either the anterior or posterior, are affected, and we recall 

 one case in which the two fore and one of the hind legs were included 

 at the same time. The accident, however, is quite as likel}^ to happen 

 while the horse is at rest in his stall, and he may be found in the 

 morning standing on his fetlocks. One of the earliest of the cases 

 occurring in my own experience had been under care for several 

 weeks for suspected disease of the fetlocks, the nature of which had 

 not been made out, when, apparently, improved by the treatment 

 which he had undergone, the patient was taken out of the stable to be 

 walked a short distance into the country, but had little more than 

 started when he was called to a halt by the fracture of the sesamoids 

 of both fore legs. 



While there are no positive premonitor}^ symptoms known of these 

 fractures, we believe that there are signs and symptoms which come 

 but little. short of being ho, and the appearance of which will always 

 justify a strong suspicion of the truth of the case. These have been 

 indicated when referring to the soreness in standing, the short mincing 

 gait, and the tenderness betrayed when pressure is made over the 

 sesamoids on the sides of the fetlock, with others less tangible and 

 definable. 



Prognosis. — These injuries can never be accounted less than seri- 

 ous, and in our judgment will never be other than fatal. If our the- 

 or}^ of their pathology is the correct one, and the cause of the lesions 

 is trul}^ the softening of the sesamoidal bony structure and independent 

 of any changes in the ligamentous fibers, the possibility of a solid 

 osseous union can hardly be considered admissible. 



Treatment. — In respect to the treatment to be recommended and 

 instituted it can only be emplo3^ed with any rational hope of benefit 

 during the incubation, and with the anticipator}^ purpose of preven- 

 tion. It must be suggested hj a suspicion of the verities of the case, 

 and applied before any rupture has taken place. To prevent this and 

 to antagonize the causes which might precipitate the final catastrophe — 

 the elevfition of the toes — resort must be had to the slings and to the 

 application of firm bandages or splints, perhaps of plaster of Paris, 

 with a high shoe, as about the only indications which science and 

 nature are able to ofier. When the fracture is an occurred event, and 

 the toes, one or more, are turned up, any further resort to treatment 

 will be futile. 



DISEASES OF JOINTS, 



Three classes of injury will be considered under this head. These 

 are, affections of the .synovial sacs; those of the joint structures, or of 



