LAMENESS IN THE REGION OF THE KNEE. 53 



History. — Lameness following, in the acute form, dis- 

 tortions, contusions ; fast and hard work in the chronic 

 form. 



Inspection: Acute Form. — Swelling (see further on), 

 supporting-leg lameness, and sometimes mixed lameness. 



Palpation. — Pain, increased heat, swelling, which fluctu- 

 ates and corresponds to the shape of the affected joint or 

 tendon sheath ; occasionally the neighboring parts also 

 swell to a doMghy consistency. 



Chronic Form. — Lameness is generally absent, especially 

 when the swelling is soft, fluctuating and corresponding to 

 the shape of the joint. Should the swelling be diffused, 

 spindle shaped, tough or hard on palpation, without increased 

 heat or pain of the parts, excessive work frequently results 

 in lameness. In chronic inflammation of the flexor tendon 

 sheaths, especially where the swelling is of an unyielding 

 nature, lameness is permanent. 



The folh:>wing are the most commonly distended articular 

 sacs and tendon sheaths : 



1. Knee-gall. — The capsular ligament is situated between 

 the lower extremity of the radius and upper row of carpal 

 bones. When distended, it appears as a roundish swelling, 

 subdivided by the extensor tendons of the anterior surface 

 of the carpus, or on the outside, just over the pisiform bone 

 and behind the radius ; it rarely exceeds the size of a hen's 

 egg- 



2. Fetlock-gall. — This gall appears as a roundish swelling, 

 seldom more than duck's egg size, between the suspensory 

 ligament and metacarpus, on either side of the extensor pedis 

 tendon, extending toward the anterior part of the fetlock. 



3. Distension of the Carpal Sheath. — The synovial sheath 

 on the posterior part of the carpus, in which the perforans 



