78 VETERINARY LECTURES 



already said, entire rest is necessary ; next, the application of a cold 

 water bandage. The shoe must be removed and the heel slightly 

 elevated, so as to act as a support to the part ; or the following, as 

 recommended by Captain M. H. Hayes, F.R.C.V.S., may be tried: 

 1 A good ply of cotton wadding to be wrapped loosely round the 

 part, and held in its place by a long calico bandage rolled firmly 

 round the leg, to be taken off and re-wrapped once every twenty-four 

 hours.' After the active symptoms have abated, blistering should 

 be resorted to and the animal turned out to grass. Firing before 

 turning out may be necessary, and is as a rule very effectual, and at 

 times good results are obtained by the application of the adhesive 

 plaster bandage. When the animal is worked too long and the 

 case neglected, the tendon becomes so much contracted that the 

 fetlock knuckles over and the animal walks on its toe. A special 

 shoe with a turned-up toe is required for this, and the operation of 

 tenotomy — dividing the tendon — has to be performed. From this 

 it will be seen how highly necessary it is to give rest in the first 

 stages, and thus obviate future ill-consequences. 



152. Break-down — a laceration of the suspensory ligament, the 

 flexor tendons, or fracture of the sesamoid bones, allowing the back 

 of the fetlock to come to the ground — is of common occurrence 

 in race-horses, steeplechasers, and hunters. For this cold water 

 bandages with splints may be applied until the active inflammation 

 is arrested ; the animal should also be put on slings, and dieted on 

 mashes or green food ; finally, a plaster-of-Paris bandage or the 

 adhesive plaster bandage may be applied, and the horse turned 

 out to grass. 



153. Sesamoiditis is inflammation of the joint at the back of 

 the fetlock, due to some injury, either to the small bones or to 

 the ligaments or tendons in connexion with them (Plate IX., 

 No. 39). The parts are much swollen and tender to the touch, 

 while the fetlock stands forward and the animal steps short. When 

 certain that this is the seat of lameness, cold water bandages can be 

 used first with complete rest, and the adhesive plaster bandage may be 

 applied, but, finally, blistering or firing may have to be resorted to. 

 In the early stages of both break-down and sesamoiditis the cotton 



