372 PEREOSTITIS (SORE SHINS). 



cannot be corrected by a change of slioeing, should always be viewed with 

 suspicion. 



PEREOSTITIS (sore SHINS ). 



This disease is most frequently met with amongst race-horses, and con- 

 sists of a diffused inflammation of the periosteum or covering of the bone, 

 as a result of the great amount of work upon the hard ground which 

 these youno- animals have to undergo in the process of trainmg. ihe 

 animal is o-enerally very lame, and will give evidence of pam on pressure 

 beino- appfied to the front of the leg. Our treatment should consist m 

 keepmo- the animal at rest, the appHcation of warm fomentations, and the 

 administration of a dose of physic. If the inflammation be very acute 

 blood may be drawn from the brachial vein. Wlien the inflammation has 

 abated, the application of a gentle stimulant, such as the vinegar of can- 

 tharides, will be very beneficial. 



SPRAIN OP THE FLEXOR TENDONS OR BACK SINEWS. 

 At the back of the arm are flexor muscles of great power, to bend the 

 lower portions of the limb. The first is the perforated flexor muscle : the 

 reason of the name AviU presently appear. It arises from the lower and 

 back part of the inner head of the lower bone of the shoulder, and inter- 

 mixed with, or rather between the origins of the muscles next to be 

 described, and called the perforating muscle. As it descends along the 

 bone of the arm it becomes tendinous ; and approachmg the knee it is 

 bound down by bands of ligament. Proceeding from the knee it widens, 

 and partly wi^aps round the tendon of the perforatmg muscle, and they 

 run clown together in contact, yet not adhering ; freely playing over each 

 other and s^iovial fluid obviating all friction. Both of them are enclosed 

 in a sheath of dense cellular substance, and they are hkewise supported 

 by various ligamentous expansions. Kear the fetlock the tendon still 

 farther expands, and forms a complete ring round the tendon of the per- 

 foratino- muscle. The use of this will be best explained when we are 

 treatin° of the fetlock. The perforated tendon soon afterwards divides, 

 and is Inserted into the smaller and larger pastern-bones, and flexes or 

 bends them. The next is the perforating flexor muscle. It has nearly the 

 same origin as the other, but with somewhat distinct heads It continues 

 muscular farther down the arm than the perforated, and bes before it. 

 At the knee it passes, like the perforated, under strong ligamentary bands, 

 which confine it to its situation. It then becomes round and is partly 

 wrapped up in the perforated, and at the fetlock is entirely surrounded 

 bv it It emerges fi'om the perforated when that tendon di^^des and 

 continues its progress alone, after the othc^r has inserted itself into the 

 pasterns, and, passir.g over the navicular-bone, terminates on the base 

 of the coffin-bone, or bone of the foot. ,-,,-, r. , i 



As they descend the back part of the leg, the tendons of the per- 

 forated and perforating flexor muscles should be far and distinctly apart 

 from the shank-bone. There should be space free from thickenmg for 

 the fino-er and thumb on either side to be introduced between them and the 

 bone, and that extending from the knee to the fetlock. In a perfect leg, 

 and towards its lower part, there should be three distmct and perfect pro- 

 iections visible to the eye, as well as perceptible by the finger ; the sides 

 of the shank-bone being the most forward of the three; next, ttie suspen- 

 sory ligament ; and, hindermost of all, the flexor tendons When these 

 aie'not to be distinctly seen or felt, or there is considerable thickenmg 

 about and between them, and the leg is round instead of flat and deep, 



