SPRAIN OF THE BACK TENDONS. 959 



Fig. 822 will be found an especially fine illustration of the 

 perforatus and perforans tendons above the fetlock, an explan- 

 ation of which is also included. A point here which is very nicely 

 explained by White, who says: 



' Between these two tendons, there are in two parts thin vas- 

 cular membranes by which they are joined together; these mem- 

 branes appear to serve as bridles, allowing the perforans tendon to 

 move a little way within the perforatus, and then preventing any 

 further motion. The situation of those membranes is about mid- 

 way in the pastern. If the coffin joint happens to be extended in a 

 way the animal was not prepared for, both these membranes are 

 ruptured. The consequence is an effusion of blood between the 

 two tendons, whereby all motion between them would be effect- 

 ually prevented, were the animal left to obey his own instinctive 

 feelings." 



In most of the so-called cases of clap, or sprain of the back 

 tendons, the ligament, and not the tendons, is the seat of the 

 injury. 



Causes- Whatever tends to throw unusual stress upon these 

 parts may produce it, such as galloping on uneven ground, allow- 

 ing the hoofs to grow too long, thereby increasing the leverage on 

 the tendon; sometimes it occurs in leaping, often while jumping 

 around in play. 



Symptoms. The animal is very lame, the part is hot, swol- 

 len, and tender ; the limb is held forward, so as to relax the part ; 

 in some cases he can hardly touch the ground. On taking up the 

 foot and pinching with the fingers, he evinces the pain he feels. 

 If the outer tendon (perforatus) is injured, we have a bulging out 

 behind, interrupting the evenness of the line which characterizes 

 the tendons. If the perforans, it is felt between the ligament and 

 the perforatus ; and if the metacarpal ligament, as is most gener- 

 ally the case, it can be felt between the bone and the tendon. 



Treatment. As before stated, the first condition of cure is 

 rest. The animal must be turned into a loose-box, and if the in- 

 jury is severe, the swollen limb must be well fomented with hot 

 water , cold may be preferable, if slight. This must be kept up 

 for move than an hour, when the following cooling lotion may be 

 well rubbed in, and a thick woolen bandage applied, well satu- 

 rated with it, and kept wet with cold water: 



