348 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



he may walk in this manner, except at intervals. The veterinary 

 surgeon is often called upon to give an opinion respecting these cases. 

 He examines the joints by careful manipulation, and he minutely traces 

 the tendons along their length, but finds no lesion of any kind present. 

 There may be, however, more or less fulness of the bursse above the fetlock. 

 The question has often been asked : ' What is the pathology of this affec- 

 tion, and what parts are implicated which cause the animal to place himself 

 in this position?' It seems to be a commonly received opinion that putting 

 horses to hard work too early is the principal exciting cause, and the 

 result of my own observations leads me to think that this is correct. 

 It is likewise asserted by some persons, that bad constitutions, independent 

 of early and hard work, tend to induce it. This probably may be the 

 case; still, we see the affection in horses having the best constitutions. 

 Colts with naturally formed upright pasterns are, if worked too early, 

 particularly predisposed to become thus affected. 



" The next question is: What can be done to restore the parts to 

 their normal condition? At this stage of the affection no operation is 

 indicated, because we can detect no shortening of the tendons or liga- 

 ments. I would advise that the animal be thrown altogether out of 

 work; that mild blisters be applied to the fetlock-joints, and repeated 

 <i second or a third time; after which the horse should be allowed as 

 long rest as may be considered necessary. But even after this, the 

 owner must not be too sanguine as to the benefit to be derived from such 

 treatment. If due time is allowed, the horse may return to his work 

 and show no signs of his former affection, and in some instances he w r ill 

 continue sound; but it is more likely, after having been worked hard for 

 a time, we shall find that the parts will return to the same condition 

 as at first. This may continue for an indefinite period, depending 

 upon the severity of the work the animal is put to, before the affection 

 merges into permanent flexure of the fetlock-joint. If we now examine 

 the limb from a little above the fetlock posteriorly downwards to the 

 insertion of the perforates tendon, we shall detect a rigidity of structure, 

 which in most cases is attended with thickening. Nothing now will 

 restore the limb to its former position but an operation, and the propriety 

 of its being performed we will now consider. 



" The incapability to extend the foot depends, no doubt, as in all 

 deformities of the kind, upon the length of the tendons or ligaments, 

 between their two fixed points, being from some cause or other diminished. 

 We shall here find that this abnormal condition of the tissue exists 

 at such a part as either forbids or allows of relief by operation, which 

 is the only means by which the obstacle to either flexion or extension 



