232 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



definitely outlined by palpation and the slack condition of the 

 tendon and displaced summit of the calcaneum, which charac- 

 terize fracture of the fibular tarsal bone, are easily recognized. 

 Treatment. — Prognosis is unfavorable in the majority of 

 cases, but should attempts at treatment be undertaken in young 

 and quiet mares which might prove valualjle for breeding pur- 

 poses in case of imperfect recovery, they should be put in slings 

 and the member is to be immobilized as in tibial fracture. Au- 

 thorities are agreed that prognosis is entirely unfavoralile in 

 mature animals, when the case is viewed from an economic stand- 

 point. 



Tarsal Sprains. 



Etiology and Occurrence. — The hock joint is often sul)jected 

 to great strain because of the structural ju^ture of this part and 

 its relation to the hip as well as the manner in which the tarsus 

 functionates during locomotion. That ligamentous injuries ow- 

 ing to sprain frequently occur and attendant periarticular in- 

 flammations with subsequent hypertrophic changes follow, is a 

 logical inference. Fibrillary fracture of the collateral ligaments 

 may take place in falls or when animals make violent efforts 

 to maintain their footing on slippery streets. In expressing 

 opinions concerning the frequency with which the hock is found 

 to be the seat of trouble in lameness of the pelvic members, dif- 

 ferent writers place the percentage of hock lameness at from 

 seventy-five to ninety per cent. And when one considers the 

 possibility that a goodly proportion of cases of tarsal exostis are 

 the outcome of sprains, the occurrence of tarsal sprains may be 

 more generally admitted. 



Symptomatology. — A mixed type of lameness is present and 

 the nature of the impediment varies, depending upon the loca- 

 tion of the injury. Sprains of the mesial tarsal ligaments cause 

 lameness some^\hat similar to that of spavin. However, in es- 

 tablishing a diagnosis, local evidence in these cases is of greater 

 significance than the manner of locomotion. During the acute 

 stage of inflammation there is to be detected local hyperthermia, 

 some hyperesthesia and a little swelling. Later, when resolution 

 is not prompt, considerable swelling (or perhaps correctly speak- 



