274 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



is sometimes called by tins name ; but when a horse breaks 

 down, the fetlock joint, when he rests on that leg, nearly bears 

 upon the ground. This accident is supposed to depend on a 

 rupture of the great suspensory ligament of the leg ; but some- 

 times it is occasioned by a rupture of the ligaments of the 

 pastern. If we examine the tendons and ligament on the back 

 part of the shank, we shall find that the great flexor, or perforans 

 tendon, is supported by a strong ligament, nearly as large as 

 itself, which proceeds from the back part of the knee, or from 

 the ujiper and posterior part of the great metacarpal or cannon 

 bone. About three or four inches down it joins the perforans 

 tendon, and becomes intimately mixed with it. If this part is 

 examined it will clearly appear that a rupture of the suspensory 

 ligament of the fetlock joint would not bring the horse down 

 upon his fetlock joint unless this suspensory ligament of the 

 perforans tendon were to give way also.* I have met with two 

 cases of a rupture of the ligaments, by which the two pastern 

 bones are held together. It happened to two nerved horses, 

 that were driven in the subscription coach from Bath to Exeter. 

 Both these horses came down upon the fetlock joint, and were 

 therefore shot. A perpendicular section was made of the foot 

 and pastern, when this dislocation of the pastern bones was 

 shown very conspicuously. The suspensory ligament of the 

 pastern joint embraces the two sesamoids laterally, and when 

 ruptured it is probable that only one of its branches is broken, 

 which is followed by a dislocation of one or both sesamoids : 

 this accident also I have seen. 



[This breaking down is most probably owing to a rupture 

 or strain of the ligaments passing from the sesamoid bones to 

 the pasterns, which, on being divided, greatly increases the ob- 

 liquity of the joint. In the treatment of such cases the patten 

 shoe must be early applied, and the same means resorted to as 

 for other strains. 



The Suspensory Ligaments which pass down the leg between 

 the back sinews and the bone, are often the seat of inflammation, 

 enlargement, and lameness. The nature of this affection is less 

 severe, though often more obstinate, than that of the tendons. 



The Treatment must be similar to that before recommended : 

 but, there being less inflammation, firing or bhstering should be 

 earlier resorted to. — Ed.] 



* Tlie perforans ligament here refered to is not unfrequcntly strained ; 

 and its symptoms are an enlargement just under the knee, which is tender 

 on being pressed, and a knuckling of the fetlock arising from the unwillino-- 

 ness of the horse to bear his usual weight upon it. M neglected, the lioa- 

 ment contracts, and an overshot fetlock joint is the consequence. The same 

 treatment should be adopted as for strains of the flexor sinews. — Ed. 



