365 



may belar^^ely dissipated aud the joint strengthened by the use of the 

 firing iron and blisters. 



A joint once injured by a severe sprain never entirely regains its 

 original strength, and is ever after particularly liable to a repetition of 

 the injur}'. 



KUPTURE OP THE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT. 



Sprain, with or without rupture, of the suspensoiy ligament, may 

 happen in both the fore and hind legs, and is occasionally seen in horses 

 of all classes and at all ages. Old animals, however, and especially hunt- 

 ers, runners, and trotters, are the most subject to this injury, and with 

 these classes the seat of the trouble is nearly always in one, or both, 

 the fore legs. Ilorses used for heavy draught are more liable to have 

 the ligament of the hind legs affected. 



When the strain ui)on the suspensory ligament becomes too great 

 one or both of the branches may be torn from their attachments to 

 the sesamoid bones ; one or both of the branches may be torn com- 

 pletely across ; or the ligament may rupture above the point of division. 



Si/m2)toms. — The most common injury to the suspensory ligament is 

 sprain of the internal braucli in one of the fore legs. The trouble is pro- 

 claimed by lameness, heat, swelling and tenderness of the affected 

 branch, beginning just above the sesamoid bone and extending ob- 

 liquely downward aud forward to the front of the ankle. If the whole 

 ligament is involved the swelling comes on gradually, aud is found 

 above the fetlock and in front of the flexor tendons. The patient 

 stands or walks upon the too as much as possible, keeping the fetlock 

 joint flexed so as to relieve the ligament of tension. 



When both branches are torn from their attachments to the sesa- 

 moids, or both are torn across, the lameness comes on suddenly and is 

 most intense ; the fetlock descends, the toe turns up and, as the animal 

 attempts to walk, the leg has the appearance of being broken off at the 

 fetlock. These symptoms, followed by heat, pain, and swelling of the 

 parts at the point of injury will enable any one to make a diagnosis. 



Treatment. — Sprain of the suspensory ligament, no matter how mild 

 it may be, should always be treated by enforced rest of at least a month, 

 and the application of cold douches and cold water bandages, firmly 

 applied until the fever has subsidetl, when a cantharides blister should 

 be put on and repeated in two or three weeks' time, if necessary. When 

 rupture has taken place the patient should be put iu slings, and a con- 

 stant stream of cold water allowed to trickle over the seat of injury 

 uutil the fever is reduced. In the course of a week or ten days' time a 

 plaster of Paris splint, such as is used in fractures, is to be applied and 

 left on for a month or six weeks. When this is taken off blisters may 

 be used to remove the remaining soreness ; but it is useless to expect 

 a removal of all the thickening, for in the process of repair new tissue 

 has been formed which will always remain. 



