QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 243 



the interosseous ligament, periosteum and bones. The irritation 

 may be from blows as interfering, or from unequal distribution 

 of pressure in the knee which throws an excessive load on the inner 

 small metacarpus and ruptures the interosseous ligament. 



Symptoms: In early stages, lameness is seen which is more 

 marked at the trot. If high, affecting the carpus, the leg is held in 

 abduction and extreme lameness is shown. Slight swelling, increased 

 heat and pain on pressure can be readily detected. When the in- 

 flammation subsides, an exostosis remains as a blemish. 



Treatment: Rest is important and in most cases is the only 

 treatment needed. If due to striking, correct this fault by proper 

 shoeing. In young horses, splint lameness often disappears spon- 

 taneously. Mild blisters and the firing iron may be used in severe 

 cases. The exostosis called the ' ' splint, ' ' if unaccompanied by lame- 

 ness, should not be interfered with unless, by reason of its size, it is 

 struck by the opposite foot, then its removal may be attempted by 

 chiselling it off. 



Give the symptoms and the treatment of fracture of the metacarpus. 



Symptoms: Displacement and abnormal mobility of the parts. 

 Inability to place weight on the leg and crepitation may be noted. 



Treatment : Place patient in slings. Replace the parts in proper 

 position and apply a plaster-of-Paris bandage. Leave the plaster 

 cast in place for six weeks. Some advocate turning the horse in 

 pasture after the cast hardens, but quietude is better. 



Give the symptoms and the treatment of fracture of the os suffraginis. 

 Symptoms: Sudden lameness with volar flexion of the fetlock. 

 Passive rotation of the foot produces crepitation in a complete frac- 

 ture. In case of fissure, a line of tenderness may be detected on 

 palpation, but no crepitation. 



Treatment: Place patient in slings. Replace the parts in pro- 

 per position and fix firmly with a plaster-of-Paris bandage. After 

 the cast hardens, it may be advisable to provide a soft bed and allow 

 the patient to lie down, thus preventing laminitis or other lameness 

 in the sound foot by reason of its bearing additional weight. 



Define ring-bone. Give the symptoms and the treatment of the same. 

 Ring-bone is a collective term for various chronic aseptic inflam- 

 matory processes at the coronary joint, attended with swelling. 

 According to location, we distinguish two forms, viz., articular, in- 

 volving the joint, and periarticular, in which the joint is not 

 affected. 



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