374 



In sueli cases, and as well in those due to exhaustion or fatigue, the 

 fetlock or ankle boot must be used. In manj- instances interfering 

 may be prevented by proper shoeing. The outside heel and quarter 

 of the foot on the injured leg should be lowered sufficiently to change 

 the relative i)osition of the fetlock joint, by bringing it further awaj^ 

 from the center plane of the bodj^, therebj' x)ermitting the other foot 

 to pass 1)3' without striking. 



A very slight change is often sufficient to effect this result. At the 

 same time the offending foot should be shod, that the shoe may set 

 well nnder the hoof at the point responsible for the injury. The shoe 

 should be reset every three or four weeks. 



When the cause has been removed cold water bandages to the 

 injured x^arts will soon remove the soreness and swelling, especially 

 in recent cases. If, however, the fetlock has become calloused from 

 long-continued bruising, a Spanish fly blister over the parts, repeated 

 in two or three weeks' time if necessary, will aid in reducing the leg 

 to its natural condition. 



KNUCKLIXG OR COCKED AXKLES. 



Knuckling is a partial dislocation of the fetlock joint, in which tlie 

 relatiA'e j)osition of the i^astern bone to the cannon and coronet bones 

 is changed, the pastern becoming more nearly j^erpendicular, with 

 the lower end of the cannon bone resting behind the center line of the 

 suft'raginis, while the lower end of this bone rests behind the center 

 line of the coronet. While knuckling is not always an unsound- 

 ness, it nevertheless predisjjoses to stumbling and to fracture of the 

 pastern. 



Causes. — Young foals are quite subject to this condition, but in the 

 great majoritj^ of cases it is onlj^ temporary. It is largely due to 

 the fact that, before birth, the legs were flexed,; and time is required, 

 after birth, for the ligaments, tendons, and muscles to adapt them- 

 selves to the function of sustaining the weight of the body. 



Horses vdth erect pasterns are very prone to knuckle as they grow 

 old, especially in the hind legs. All kinds of heavy Avork, particu- 

 larl}' in hillj^ districts, and fast work on hard race-tracks or roads are 

 exciting causes of knuckling. It is also commonly seen as an accom- 

 jianiment to that faulty conformation called club-foot, in which the 

 toe of the wall is perpendicular and short and the heels high, a condi- 

 tion most often seen in the mule, especially the hind feet. 



Lastly, knuckling is produced by disease of the suspensory ligament, 

 or of the flexor tendons, wherebj' the}' are shortened, and by disease 

 of the fetlock joints. 



Treatment. — In young foals no treatment is necessary, unless there 

 is some deformity present, since the legs straighten up without inter- 

 ference in the course of a few weeks' time. When knuckling has com- 

 menced the indications are to relieve the tendons and ligaments by 



