13S 



LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



Symptomatology. — On visual examination of the subject at 

 rest, one may note the hypertrophied condition of the affected 

 tendons. Their transverse diameter is usually perceptibly in- 

 creased and in many cases, there is an increase in the antero- 

 posterior diameter. The latter condition causes a bulging of 

 the tendon that is so noticeable, because of the convexity thus 

 formed, it is commonly known as "bowed tendon." 



In chronic tendinitis there occurs repeated attacks of inflam- 

 mation wherein lameness is pronounced and there exists in real- 



Fig. 20 — Contraction of tlie superficial digital flexor tendon (perforatus) of 

 the right hind leg, due to tendinitis. 



ity, at such times, acute inflammation of a hypertrophic struc- 

 ture, where at no time does inflammation completely subside. 

 Therefore, in chronic tendinitis there is to be found at times the 

 same conditions which characterize acute inflammation, except 

 that there is usually a variance of symptoms because of the dif- 

 ference in the degree of inflammation and pain. 



The diagnosis of contraction of tendons is an easy matter be- 

 cause of the fact that relations between the phalanges are con- 

 stantly changed with tendinous contraction. If one bears in 

 mind the attachments and function of the digital flexors, no 

 difficulty is encountered in recognizing contraction of either ten- 

 don. 



