124 LAMENESS IN THE HORSE. 



4— Fracture of the Os Pubis. 



Inspection. — Tendeucy to adduct tlie leg, with marked 

 supporting-leg lameness. Backing and stepping sideways 

 apparently cause great pain. Occasionally there is a swell- 

 ing under the belly, and possibly bleeding from the vagina 

 in mares, if a bony splinter perforated the vagina. 



Palpation. — Abduction of the leg produces pain. Rectal 

 examination will settle all doubts. Crepitation is slight or 

 pronounced. (See fig. 23.) 



5. — Frature in the Cotyloid Cavity. 



Inspedion. — Severe mixed lameness. At the slightest 

 disturbance the animal groans with pain. When the liga- 

 mentum teres is torn an uncertain stumbling gait is noticed, 

 the leg being adducted in one step and abducted in the 

 other one ; the horse is liable to fall. Now and then a slight 

 depression over the region of the hip is discernable. 



Palpation. — Crepitation can be felt by resting the hand 

 almost anywhere about the gluteal region, but is usually 

 most perceptible on the external angle of the ilium. Ab- 

 duction and adduction are abnormally free if the ligamentum 

 teres is torn. (See fig. 23.) 



6.— Fracture of the Tuberosity of the Ischium. 



Inspection. — Lameness when the leg is carried forward 

 (swinging-leg lameness); perhaps the thigh is abducted. In 

 recent cases, where swelling of the surrounding muscles 

 has not yet taken place, the fractured buttock seems broader 

 and does not extend as far back as the other one. The first 

 deformity is best seen by standing at the back of the animal, 

 while the latter is most noticeable by standing at a right 

 angle from the animal's haunch. A lameness sometimes 



