44 SPRAINS. 



the suspensory ligament. It appears to be caused as a rule 

 by a twist being given to the leg, usually when the horse is making 

 a sharp turn at a fast pace. If we find that the bursa which is 

 between the sesamoid bones and the perforans tendon is distended, 

 so as to take the form of a hard swelling at the back of the fetlock, 

 we may regard the case as very grave; for this symptom often 

 denotes an injury which is but little amenable to treatment, and 

 which is known as sesamoiditis. If pressure be put on one side of 

 this swollen bursa, it will bulge out, as I have said, on the other 

 side. Its hardness is due to the fact that the part admits of but 

 little room for distension. Sesamoiditis appears to be caused by 

 the tearing away of some of the fibres of the suspensory ligament 

 from the sesamoid bones to which they were attached. It is a 

 serious and intractable disease ; for although the lameness may 

 disappear with rest, it will certainly return if the animal be put 

 to hard work. 



" Knuckling over " is, as a rule, the result of sprain and severe 

 work, and is due to relaxation of the lateral ligaments of the fetlock 

 joint. In young horses it is sometimes caused by weakness. 



TREATMENT FOR SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK JOINT AND 

 FOR SESAMOIDITIS.— See page 4i et seg. 



Sprain of the Inferior Sesamoid Ligaments. 



These ligaments, three in number, lie at the back of the pastern, 

 and proceeding from the base of the sesamoid bones, connect them 

 with the pastern bones. Their office is to aid in preventing over- 

 extension of the fetlock joint, and to support the limb during mus- 

 cular repose while the horse is standing, in conjunction with the 

 perforans tendon and check ligament. 



SYMPTOMS.— The part is hot, swollen, and tender; and the 

 synovial sac which is at the back of the pastern, ond immediately 

 below the fetlock joint, is distended with fluid. The horse en- 

 deavours to relieve the injured structures by keeping the fetlock 

 joint bent, and tries to avoid bringing the heel to the ground. There 

 is great lameness. 



Treatment of Sprains below Knee and Hock. 



In treating these accidents, the inexperienced horse-owner need 

 not concern himself much, if he be unable to determine tlie exact 

 structure involved, so long as he can find out the seat of injury ; for 

 all these tendons and ligaments, when sprained, can be treated in 

 the same way. Experience has taught me the advisability of rely- 



