DISEASES OF THE FORE-LIMB 155 



resembles that resulting from strains and injuries to the fetlock 

 joint, especially in the region of the sesamoid hones. 



Inflammation of the sesamoid bones differs slightly from the 

 former. Pressure over the posterior region of the fetlock may 

 cause the animal pain. The lameness shows a tendency to dis- 

 appear with rest and reappear when the animal is again worked. 

 Lameness is most prominent in some cases when the animal is 

 first moved out. There may be a lack of local symptoms, such 

 as heat and swelling. It is not uncommon for a bony enlarge- 

 ment to form on the sesamoid bone after a few months or a year. 



The following treatment is recommended. Horses that have 

 a poor quality of tendon and weak fetlocks and pasterns should 

 not be used for breeding purposes. Careful driving would pre- 

 vent a large percentage of injuries to tendons. The most im- 

 portant treatment for all injuries due to strains is rest. In all 

 cases of severe strain to the structures in this region, it is very 

 advisable to apply a plaster bandage. This should be left on for 

 at least two weeks. When the acute inflammation has subsided, 

 counterirritants may be applied. Either cold or hot appli- 

 cations are recommended. Cold applications are to be preferred 

 at the beginning of the inflammation. Covering the tendons with 

 a cold bandage, or with a heavy layer of antiphlogistin, is 

 recommended. The horse should not be worked until after the 

 tendons have had an opportunity to completely recover from the 

 inflammation. 



Contracted Tendons, Knuckling-over. — jSTew-born foals are 

 sometimes unable to stand on their front feet because of the 

 excessive knuckling-over. The colt may walk on the front of 

 the pastern and fetlock. This sometimes results in severe injury 

 to the skin and the underlying tissues. 



Knuckling-over in the mature horse is not always due to 

 contracted tendons. It may occur as a s^anptom of inflammation 

 of the flexor tendons, ligaments of the fetlock joint and the 



