FKACTUKE OF THE PASTERN. 803 



concussion. The animal pulls up very lame, the toe only being 

 brought near the ground- The absence of injury to the ligaments 

 and tendons, and presence of swelling (after a short time) and pain 

 about the hollow of the pastern, are often the only signs by which 



Fi^. 117. — Fracture of the short pastern 

 bone, with bony union of both the 

 pastern and pedal joint. 



we can guess the nature of the injury. Sometimes, the bone is 

 broken into a great number of pieces, in which case, treatment 

 will be of little or no avail. As the ligaments are strong and 

 nmnerous about this part, and as the covering membrane is thick ; 

 this fracture frequently occurs without displacement, in which 



