THE FETLOCK — GROGGINESS — CUTTING. 275 



almost touches the ground. This is generally mistaken for rupture of the flexor 

 tendon ; but one circumstance will sufficiently demonstrate that it is the suspensory 

 ligament which is concerned, viz. : that the horse is able to bend his foot. Kupturo 

 of this ligament is a bad, and almost desperate case. The horse is frequenrly lame 

 for life, and never becomes perfectly sound. Keeping him altogether quiet, bandaging 

 the leg, and putting on a high-heeled shoe, will atl'ord the most probable means of 

 relief. 



The common injury to this ligament is sprain, indicated by lameness, and swelling, 

 and heat, more or less severe in proportion as the neighbouring parts are involved. 

 This will sometimes yield to rest and cooling treatment; but if the case is obstinate, 

 it will be necessary to have recourse to the actual cautery. The hunter and the race- 

 horse are most subject to lesions of these ligaments — the hunter from leaping the 

 fence, and the race-horse from the violent efforts W'hich nre occasionally demanded 

 from him. In both cases, the neighbouring parts usually share in the injury, and a 

 cure is rarely completely effected. 



The means of cure are the same as in lesions of other joints, but they must be more 

 seriously and perseveringly applied. 



THE FETLOCK. 



The fetlock-joint is a very complicated one, and from the stress which is laid on it, 

 and its being the principal seat of motion below the knee, it is particularly subject to 

 injury. There are not many cases of sprain of the back-sinew that are not accom- 

 panied by inflammation of the ligaments of this joint; and numerous supposed cases 

 of sprain higher up are simple affections of the fetlock. It requires a great deal of 

 care, and some experience, to distinguish the one from the other. The heat about the 

 part, and the point at which the horse least endures the pressure of the finger, will be 

 the principal guides. Occasionally, by the application of cooling lotions, the inflam- 

 mation may be subdued, but, at other times, the horse suffers dreadfully, and is unablo 

 to stand. A serious affection of the fetlock-joint demands treatment more prompt and 

 severe than that of the sheaths of tlie tendons. 



GROGGINESS. 



The peculiar knuckling of the fetlock-joint, and the tottering of the whole of the 

 fore-leg, known by the name of grogginess, and which is so often seen in old and 

 over-worked horses, is seldom an affection of either the fetlock or the pastern-joints 

 simply. Indeed it is difficult to fix on any particular joint, unless it is that which is 

 deep in the foot, and where the ilexor tendon runs over the navicular bone. It seems 

 oftenest to be a want of power in the ligaments of the joints generally, produced by 

 frequent and severe sprains, or by ill-judged and cruel exertion. Professor Stewart 

 very trtily says, that " it is common among all kinds of fast workers, and long journeys 

 at a fast pace will make almost any horse groggy. Bad shoeing and want of stable 

 care may help to increase, but never can alone produce grogginess. It is one of the 

 evils of excessive work."* In the majority of cases it admits of no remedy. 



CUTTING. 



The inside of the fetlock is often bruised by the shoe or the hoof of the opposite 

 foot. Many expedients used to be tried to remove this ; the inside heel has been 

 raised and lowered, and the outside raised and lowered; and sometimes one operation 

 has succeeded, and sometimes the contrary ; and there was no point so involved in 

 obscurity or so destitute of principles to guide the practitioner. The most successful 

 remedy, and that which in the great majority of cases supersedes all others, is Mr. 

 Turner's shoe, of equal thickness from heel to toe, and having but one nail, and that 

 near the toe on the inside of the shoe ; care being taken that the shoe shall not 

 extend beyond the edge of the crust, and that the crust shall be rasped a little at the 

 quarters. 



There are some defects, however, in the natural form of the horse, which are the 

 causes of cutting, and which no contrivance will remedy ; as when the legs ara 

 placed too near to each other, or when the feet are turned inward or outward. A 



* Stewart's Stable CEconomy, p. 3S5. 



