288 THE EXTERIOR OF THE HORSE. 



very common upon the posterior members and completely deforming the regions 

 between the hock and the hoof. These indurations, known under the name of 

 fibrous elephantiasis (Trasbot) on account of their analogy with elephantiasis in 

 man and of the aspect which they give to the members, are sometimes compli- 

 cated by lesions of the bones. In spite of their hardness, their volume, and the 

 pressure exercised on the organs which they cover, they do not occasion very 

 great inconvenience in walking and permit the utilization of the animal at a 

 slow pace. They are rebellious to all treatment, and the very means employed 

 to combat them have no other result, in most instances, than the development 

 of an activity analogous to that which is observed in similar cases in the forma- 

 tion of neoplasms, which may have with them, according to our colleague, 

 Professor Trasbot, a closely-related origin. 



We will also cite the hard and indolent enlargement of the tibial aponeurosis 

 at the point where it terminates on the tendons of the extensor muscles of the 

 phalanges. This induration, which is located at about the superior third of the 

 anterior face of the hind canon, is susceptible of ulceration under the influence 

 of friction, and seems more particularly confined to English thoroughbred and 

 other horses of great speed. 



Eczema (grease, water in the legs}, a chronic affection of the skin, somewhat 

 scarce to-day, consisting of an abundant and fetid exudation on the very lowest 

 part of the member, may ascend to the posterior region of the canon when it is 

 of long standing. Although not disabling the animal from work, this should 

 nevertheless be considered serious, from the uncleanliness which it engenders 

 and the care which it necessitates. 



Contusions and ruptures of the tendons of the canon are frequent in the 

 anterior members, while in the posterior they are, so to speak, at least from our 

 own experience, almost unknown. 



Designated under the name over-stretching, or, better, strains of the tendon, 

 they result from traction or partial lacerations of the tendinous fibres during the 

 violent efforts of locomotion at great speed. This alteration of the tendons or 

 of the structures situated more deeply (check tendon) is followed by a more or 

 less acute inflammation accompanied at the beginning by a severe lameness and 

 succeeded soon by an enlargement, which renders the organs knotted and always 

 very sensitive. The symptoms, at the end of a certain period, ameliorate, but 

 the swelling and the lameness persist, while the contraction of the tendons 

 and the consecutive deformity of the angle of the fetlock take place. For these 

 reasons, over- stretching is a grave accident. It depreciates so much more the 

 value of the animal as he is intended for pleasure and parade, and as it is neces- 

 sary to employ the most energetic means of treatment against it, such as tenot- 

 omy or the actual cautery, whose indelible traces have all the characteristics of 

 the most permanent blemishes. 



It is vulgarly said of the hippodrome horse which meets with the accident 

 on the race-course, that he has snapped a tendon or that he is broken down. 



The most common blemish of the canon, involving the bones themselves, 

 manifests itself by the presence of osseous tumors, known under the name of 

 splints. 



These exostoses, in the majority of cases, have their seat on the interosseous 

 ligament which unites the rudimentary metacarpal or metatarsal to the principal 

 bone of the canon. Those which exist on the anterior face of the latter are the 



