34° THE FARM DOCTOR. 



completely torn across, the fetlock descending to the ground, 

 avA the toe turning up. Any injury to this ligament is likely to 

 cause more persistent lameness than a corresponding injury to 

 the back tendons, seeing it is a mechanical support to the 

 fetlock and is always on the strain when the animal stands 

 upon the limb. 



Sytnptoms. — Persistent, often severe lameness, upright pastern, 

 stumbling gait, or undue lowering of the fetlock when weight is 

 thrown upon the limb. Then by bringing the fingers and 

 thumb down the line of the cord felt immediately behind the 

 lower half of the shank-bone between it and the back tendons, 

 some enlargement is detected, with heat and tenderness. In 

 bad cases, with descent of the fetlock, the whole length of the 

 cord is thickened, and the infiltration of the surrounding parts 

 gives the whole back of the limb a soft doughy feeling. Treat- 

 ment is much less satisfactory than in sprains of the back 

 tendons, but the principles are the same, though a much longer 

 period of rest and blistering is usually demanded. In severe 

 forms with descent of the fetlock, that must be supported by 

 splints and bandages, in the same manner as after cutting the 

 back tendons, otherwise the limb will be permanently distorted. 

 These severe cases, which usually result from the most violent 

 exertions in racing or hunting, rarely recover so as to be fit for 

 such work in future, though they may be useful for service at a 

 slow pace. 



SPRAIN OF THE BACK TENDONS OVER THE FETLOCK PULLEY. 

 WIND-GALLS. SESAMOIDITIS. 



This is the result of sprains or severe exertions, and is always 

 associated with round elastic synovial swellings on each side of 

 the tendons, familiarly known as puffs or wind-galls. Similar 

 swellings arise, independent of sprains, as the result of over- 

 exertion or dropsy of the part. The swellings may become 

 solid by coagulation of the lymph, and may be absorbed or 



