346 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDU8TKY. 



of the region and the aceompanying local s^'mptoms. The parts, 

 which in health are well defined, with the outlines of the tendons and 

 ligaments well marked, become the seat of a swelling, more or less 

 developed, from a small spot on the middle of the back of the tendon 

 to a tumefaction reaching from the knee down to and even invohing 

 the fetlock itself. It is always 'characterized b}' heat, and it is vari- 

 ousl}' sensitive, ranging from a mere tenderness to a degree of soreness 

 which shrinks from the lightest touch. The degree of the lameness 

 varies, and it has a corresponding range with the soreness, sometimes 

 showing only a slight halting and at others the extreme of lameness 

 on three legs, with intermediate degrees. 



The lameness is always worse when the weight is thrown on the foot, 

 and is most marked toward the end of the phase of contact with the 

 ground. Either passive irritation of the leg or turning the animal 

 in a circle causes pain as in diseases of the joints. Sometimes the horse 

 likes to get the heels on a stone or some elevation so as to relieve the 

 weight from the flexor tendons. Finally, in cases of long standing, a 

 shortening of the tendons occurs, resulting in the abnormal flexion of 

 the foot known by horsemen as ''broken down,"' or a more upright 

 position of the foot may follow, producing perhaps knuckling or the 

 so-called club foot. 



Prognosis. — It may be safeh' assumed on general principles that a 

 leg which has received such injuries very seldom returns to a perfect 

 condition of efficiency and soundness, and that as a fact a certain abso- 

 lute amount of thickening and deformity will remain permanent, even 

 when the lameness has entirely disappeared. 



Treatment. — The injured member should receive the earliest attention 

 possible, not only when the inflammatory condition is present, but 

 when it is subsiding and there is onlv the thickening of the ligaments, 

 the tendons, or the sheath. 



The most important remedy is rest, and the shoes should always be 

 removed. During the first three days cold in the form of immersion 

 or continuous irrigation is indicated. Then warm moisture and con- 

 tinuous pressure are advised. The latter is best applied by placing two 

 padded splints about the thickness of the thumb along the two .sides of 

 the tendon and binding them in place with even pressure by bandage. 

 Frequent bathing with warm soap suds is also l)eneficial. The absorp- 

 tion of the exudate may be promoted and the work of restoration 

 effected by frictions with alcohol, tincture of soap, spirits of camphor, 

 mild liniments, strong sweating liniments, and blisters. An excellent 

 ointment to apply with massage consists of equal parts of blue oint- 

 ment and green soap, with double the quantity of vaseline. The action 

 of blisters in these cases depends chiefly upon the massage used in 

 applying them and upon the continuous pressure of the swollen skin 

 on the inflamed tendons. In old cases more beneficial results will fol- 



