i86 THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



who have taken up the subject appears to connect the condition with some 

 derangement of the nervous functions, and consequently it has been decided 

 to deal with it brieliy in this chapter, as being at present the most appro- 

 priate position for it. 



Regarding the particular nature of this derangement opinions are most 

 diverse. Dick claimed to have proved that the symptoms were due to 

 the presence of tumours in the lateral ventricles of the brain. In one case 

 upon which a post-mortem examination was made by Sewell and Spooner 

 a quantity of extravasated blood was found near the origin of the great 

 sciatic nerve from the spinal cord. Others, again, attribute the condition 

 to inflammation of the sciatic nerve. By some it has been attributed to 

 peripheral irritation. Gunther, amongst others, has connected the affec- 

 tion with surgical diseases of the foot. It has been considered secondary 

 to affections of the muscles, the fascia of the leg, the joints, and even 

 the bones. It will thus be seen how indefinite our knowledge con- 

 cerning the cause of this disease really is. Whatever the cause, it appears 

 to be generally conceded that the peculiar movements observed are 

 involuntary. 



The condition most frequently develops slowly, but at times cases are 

 observed in which the symptoms appear suddenly. Although in many 

 cases of stringhalt the animals work regularly throughout life without 

 any apparent inconvenience, the disease is usually considered to be pro- 

 gressive, and is looked upon with considerable suspicion by dealers and 

 other purchasers of horses. W. Williams considered that " it should be 

 looked upon as an unsoundness, and as a cause of depreciation of the 

 animal's value." 



If the symptoms presented are considered to be secondary to some 

 surgical disease, as, for instance, one of the numerous affections of the foot, 

 then our prognosis might be favourable, based upon a reasonable expecta- 

 tion that the symptoms of stringhalt will subside as the surgical affection 

 to which they are subsidiary progresses towards recovery. Otherwise treat- 

 ment of chronic stringhalt is generally of little use. Peroneal tenotomy 



