38 LAMENESS IN THE HORSE. 



Elieumatic lameness, as mostly fouud iu the mastoido- 

 Lumeralis, is either remittent or intermittent. In this 

 trouble, firm, steady pressure does not seem productive of 

 much pain, while slight and sudden touches, as tapping the 

 muscle with the finger, produces severe pain and even violent 

 contractions of it ; lameness often disappears on active 

 sweating exercise, to return with more or less intensity after 

 resting. 



The writer has seen a case of rheumatism of the mastoido- 

 humeralis which caused j)ermanent lameness by involving 

 later on the flexors of the phalanges, especially the flexor 

 pedis perforans. At first the neck of the animal was bent 

 downward and to one side, after some time this was relieved, 

 but the flexors of the phalanges became diseased, until now 

 the phalanges show excessive volar flexion, the toe barely 

 touching the ground. 



CONTUSIONS AND DISTORTION OF THE SCAPULO-HUMERAL 

 ARTICULATION. 



Eistorij. — Lameness following falls, slips, and struggling 

 with one or both feet entangled, —iu fact, anything causing 

 excessive movement of the joint. 



Inspection. — When standing still, the leg is usually 

 abducted and rests upon the toe. There is swinging-leg 

 lameness, the stride is shortened, the leg is moved carefully 

 and slowly, being abducted at the same time. Backing is 

 connected with difficulty, the foot being dragged over the 

 ground. There may be swelling about the articulation. 



Pdlpation. — Heat, pain and swelling may be present 

 together or separately. The exact location of this trouble is 

 often hard to find, and the ambiguous diagnosis of "shoulder 

 lameness " is made. 



