96 THE HORSE 



manipulated in order to assist in arriving at an opinion 

 as to the cause of the lameness. The writer can only 

 indicate some of the principal abnormahties which are 

 capable of causing lameness, and these are as follows : 

 sprained tendons, especially the flexor pedis tendon ; 

 the extensor pedis tendon ; sprain of the suspensory 

 ligament ; paralysis of the radial nerve ; sprain of the 

 fetlock joint ; split pastern, or fracture of the first 

 phalanx ; fracture of the second or third phalanx ; 

 navicular-arthritis ; fracture of the navicular bone ; 

 a bruise to the coronet ; sand-crack ; thrush (if severe) ; 

 canker of the foot ; over-reach ; bruised heel ; cracked 

 heel ; fistula of the foot ; puncture of the foot ; picked- 

 up nail ; laminitis, either acute or sub-acute ; periostitis ; 

 ring-bone ; splint ; and various other injuries to the 

 bones, joints, nerves and tendons, all of which are fre- 

 quently met with in lameness of the fore limb, and likewise 

 in the hind limb, but, in addition, we find the following 

 troubles are fairly frequent in the last named. Bone- 

 spavin, curb, thoro-pin, sprain of the hock joint, sprain 

 of the flexor-metatarsi and dislocation of the patella or 

 slipped stifle. 



In addition to the foregoing a not uncommon cause of 

 lameness in the foal and of sudden development is the 

 so-called rheumatic- arthritis, or joint-ill — a septic infec- 

 tion of one or more of the joints. As already stated, the 

 degree of lameness varies in its intensity, its duration and 

 its termination. Dislocations and fractures are usually 

 marked by the sudden development of the lameness, 

 likewise by its severity. A fracture is not necessarily 

 accompanied by displacement of the fractured ends of the 

 bone, consequently a part may be broken without being 

 discoverable by external manipulation. Direct violence 

 is the usual cause of injuries of this nature, but they are 

 sometimes produced by sudden muscular contraction 

 such as sometimes results through pulling a horse up 

 suddenly and violently. Sprained muscles and tendons are 



