LAMENESS IN THE EEGION OF THE METACAKPUS. 59 



Inspection. — Usually all three metacarpal bones are 

 broken, there is inability to support the weight of the body, 

 and generally, deformity with abnormal mobility of the 

 fractured parts. 



Pa?pa^tow.— Crepitation, abnormal mobility, pain, i^vA 

 after some time hot and painful swelling about the broken 

 parts. Fissures are difficult of diagnosis, and may be 

 surmised when a tract of increased sensibility can be 

 detected by careful palpation. The sound leg must also be 

 examined in exactly the same way as the lame one, in order 

 to compare results obtained. Fracture of one of the small 

 metacarpal bones usually is difficult to recognize, especially 

 when swelling has set in; but careful palpation occasionally 

 reveals crepitation. 



4.— Splints. 



History. — Lameness following fast or continuous work 

 on hard ground, interfering ; lameness is more marked on 

 hard than on soft ground. 



Inspection. — At rest, the lame leg is abducted, especially 

 when the splint is near the carpal articulation. Swinging-leg 

 lameness is more pronounced on hard than on soft ground. 

 The hoof is put down in the usual manner, the knee may be 

 held stiffly, while the leg is advanced. There is generally a 

 greatly increased amount of lameness on changing the 

 horse from a walk to a trot. 



Palpation. — In the earlier stages, heat, pain and swelling 

 are detected. Splints are chiefly on the inside of the 

 metacarpal bone, especially in the groove formed by the 

 small and large metacarpal bon<^s; but in pigeon-toed 

 horses they are mostly seen on the outside of the shin 

 bone. The favorite location seems to be a little above the 



