[LAMENESS IN THE HIND LEG 251 



effect of such treatment is not experienced until several months' 

 time have elapsed. 



Where good facilities for executing a careful technic in every 

 detail are at hand, incision of the tarsal sheath, evacuation of 

 its contents and uniting its walls again by means of sutures 

 and providing for drainage with a suitable drainage tube, may 

 be practiced. This manner of treatment has been satisfactory 

 in the hands of a number of surgeons. 



Capped Hock. 



Enlargements which occur upon the summit of the os calcis, 

 whether hypertrophy of the skin and rmbcuticular fascia, the 

 result of injury or repeated vesication, distension of the sub- 

 cutaneous bursa or injury to the superficial flexor tendon (per- 

 foratus) or its sheath, are generally known as capped hock. 

 However, the term should be restricted to use in reference to 

 distensions of synovial structures of that region. 



Etiology and Occurrence. — Usually there occurs a hygrom- 

 atous involvement of the subcutaneous bursa due to contusion. 

 As in bog spavin, following certain infectious diseases (influ- 

 enza, purpura hemorrhagica, etc.) there remains a distended con- 

 dition of the subcutaneous bursa, after swelling of the member 

 has subsided. In feeding pens where numbers of young mules 

 are kept in crowded quarters many cases may be observed. In 

 some instances where violent contusions result from kicking 

 cross-bars of wagon shafts (by nymphomaniacs or in habitual 

 kickers where there is opportunity for doing such injury) the 

 superficial flexor tendon and its synovial apparatus are injured 

 and a more serious condition may result. 



Symptomatolog'y. — In acute and extensive inflammation of 

 the pai'ts, lameness is present, but in the average case no in- 

 convenience to the subject results. The prominent site of the 

 affection is cause for an unsightly blemish. This is undesirable, 

 particularly in light-harness or saddle horses. These affections 

 are characterized by a fluctuating mass which has a thin wall 

 and in all cases of long standing the condition is painless. 



