LAMENESS IN THE FORE LEG 101 



such manner that an imperfect partitioning of the three joint 

 compartments is formed. Posteriorly, the capsule is very heavy 

 and forms a sort of padding over the irregular surfaces of the 

 bones, and also its reflexions constitute the sheaths of the flexor 

 tendons. The anterior portion of the capsular ligament forms 

 sheaths for the extensor tendons, and both portions of the joint 

 have an attachment around the distal end of the radius and 

 another at the proximal end of the metacarpal bones. 



Etiology and Opcurrence. — Puncture wounds of any kind 



Fig. 13 — Carpal exostosis in aged horse. 



may serve to perforate the joint capsule and such traumatisms 

 are occasioned by falls, kicks and iu various ways in runaway 

 accidents, and open carpal joint may follow. 



Symptomatology. — The pathognomonic symptoms of the ex- 

 istence of an open joint is the exposure to view of articular 

 surfaces of bones or noting the escape of synovia from the joint 

 capsule. As has been previously referred to, there always exists 

 a peculiar suspension of carpal flexion in all cases of carpitis. 



Non-infective wounds which may cause open joint are not 

 necessarily productive of an active carpitis — a synovitis may 

 be the extent of the disturbance. Ualike synovitis, which may 



