OSSIFICATION OF THE BACK SINEW I05 



feet are most liable to this complaint, as they are sub- 

 jected to the greatest stress in the force required by 

 them to propel the horse, and in this case the back 

 part of the foot is most liable to be affected. But the 

 disease is not of so serious a nature, being chiefly con- 

 fined to the ligaments, and the bones have not been 

 injured by concussion, to which the fore legs are 

 peculiarly exposed ; consequently, in them, diseases 

 of the bones generally accompany ligamentary lame- 

 ness. 



Remedies. — In the early stages of this complaint, 

 when even a bony enlargement is visible on both 

 sides of the pastern joint, or on one side only, and the 

 enlargement is of but small extent, then there is a 

 probability that it may be removed by the application 

 of an active blister, or by the use of the cautery. But 

 owing to the extreme action of these joints, the in- 

 flammation and the bony secretion rapidly spread, 

 and then the joints become immovably fixed, or what 

 is technically termed anchylosed. 



OSSIFICATION OF THE BACK SINEW. 

 Ossification of the back sinew is very easily dis- 

 tinguished. When a healthy sinew is pressed upon 

 with the thumb and two first fingers, from above 

 downwards, it feels like a very tense cord, yielding 

 slightly under the pressure, but springing back to its 

 natural position the moment that pressure is removed. 

 When the sinew is ossified, it is divested of that 

 elasticity, so obvious to the touch of even the most in- 

 experienced. It is true that in its incipient state it is 

 not so readily discovered, as its bony texture has not 

 been fully formed, although an expert veterinary 

 surgeon will be able to detect it soon after it has 

 begun to form. In the earlier stages of ossification of 



