148 



LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



With rupture of the deep tiexor tendou (perforans), especially 

 wlien it occurs at or near its point of insertion and sometimes 

 foUowiug disease, prognosis is unfavorable. 



Rupture of the suspensory ligament constitutes a condition 

 which is, as a rule, hopeless, because of the impracticability of 

 treating such cases. 



The salient feature which characterizes any practical attempt 

 at treatment of ruptured tendons or other portions of the inhibi- 

 tory apparatus of the fetlock region, is to retain the phalanges 

 in their normal position for a sufficient length of time that the 

 approximated ends of ruptured tendons or ligaments may unite. 

 The length of time required for this to occur, together with the 



Fig. 27 — A good style of shoe for bracing the fetlock where tenotomy has 

 been performed, or in case of traumatic division of the flexor tendons. An 

 invention of Dr. G. H. Roberts. 



difficulties encountered in confining the affected extremities in 

 suitable braces or supportive appliances, precludes all possibil- 

 ity of this condition's being practically amenable to treatment 

 when the deep flexor tendon (perforans) and suspensory liga- 

 ment are simultaneously ruptured. It does not follow, even so, 

 that recovery does not succeed treatment in some of these un- 

 favorable eases. 



