LAMENESS IN THE REGION OF THE TIBIA. 



107 



2. — Rupture of the Flexor Metatarsi Muscle. 



Historij. — Lameness following collisions, kicking violently 

 and struggling while cast, with inability to rise. 



Inspection. — Swinging-leg lameness, with abnormal flexion 

 of the stifle and excessive extension of the hock joint. 



Fig. 19. 

 Rupture of flexor metatarsi muscle. From a photograph. 



During the forward stride the hock and parts below it are 

 not advanced in the usual manner, but remain behind, the 

 stifle joint at that moment being exceedingly flexed. The 

 thigh totters and the two hocks sometimes beat against each 

 other, simulating a fracture of the tibia ; yet any doubts in 

 that direction can at once be banished, since weight is 

 supported by the lame leg in rupture of the flexor metatarsi, 

 but not in case of fracture. "When this muscle is ruptured 

 the teudo-Achilles is perfectly slack. 



