40 



SPRAINS. 



The foregoing remarks on the manner in which this ligament 

 becomes sprained at a walk in heavy draught would, I submit, lead 

 us to the conclusion that when this accident occurs at a fast pace, 

 it must do so by reason of a jerk caused by the toe coming on the 

 ground at a moment when the heel is unsupported ; for instance, 

 when the horse puts his toe on a stone or small mound of hardened 

 earth. 



Sprain of the check ligament constitutes what is commonly called 

 sprain or clap of the back sinews. 



SYMPTOMS OF SPRAIN OF THE CHECK LIGAMENT.— As 



sprain of this ligament usually occurs at its junction with the per- 

 forans tendon, there will be more or less swelling at the upper half 

 of the leg; between the knee and fetlock. Soon after the accident 



r^^ 



Fig. 14. — Heavy draught. 



occurs, the ligament becomes hot, tender, and swollen, a condition 

 which may be perceived by passing the fingers over the part 

 that lies between the back tendons and the cannon bone, and ex- 

 tends from immediately below the knee to about one-third of 

 the way down towards the fetlock. We may readily determine 

 the seat of the injury, from observing that the back tendons and 

 suspensory ligament are unaffected in the first instance. In a day 

 or two the back tendons, viewing them sideways, assume a more 

 or less " bowed " appearance, by reason of the exudation invading 

 them. In mild cases of injury to this ligament, the symptoms are 

 heat and fulness of the part just below the knee, with only a trifling 

 degree of lameness. In severe cases, there is well-marked lameness ; 

 and the horse, when standing, rests his toe on the ground in order 

 to throw the injured ligament into a state of rest. 



After a bad sprain of the check ligament, we often find a 

 permanent thickening, somewhat in the form of a knot, at the point 



