438 The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



ally desirable to penetrate the skin in points, but nevei 

 keep the hot iron long in contact with it lest the radiated 

 heat destroy the integument. It is often needful to allow 

 a rest of several months for consolidation of the new de- 

 posit. When the joints are much affected the only cure 

 is by the growth of bone over them and the abolition ol 

 movement, and then there remains some stiffness though 

 there may be abUity for slow work. Old horses recover 

 less satisfactorily than young ones. If there is reason to 

 suspect a rheumatic comphcation or any general fault in 

 nutrition these must be attended to. 



SPEAIN OF THE FLEXOR TENDONS BEHIND THE PASTERN. 



This is of two kinds, though both in almost the same 

 seat. Opposite the first pastern joint the posterior ten- 

 don divides into two branches which passing over the in- 

 ner and- outer sides of the other tendon are inserted on 

 the corresponding aspects of the head of the small pastern 

 bone. Between these branches the other tendon plays 

 over a raised fibro-cartilaginous pulley, its gliding being 

 favored by a synovial sac. This last tendon may be 

 sprained as it plays over this pulley, in the median line 

 of the back of the limb, and either of the branches of the 

 other tendon may be sprained close to its attachment on 

 the inner or outer side of this pulley. 



Symptoms. Standing quiet the animal keeps the fet- 

 lock and pastern joints slightly flexed, the foot advanced 

 six or eight inches, the heel sHghtly raised and the toe 

 resting on the ground. In action he steps short and stubs 

 the toe into the ground and generally improves as he 

 warms up to work. The toe of the shoe wears faster than 

 the heel, and the heel in old standing cases may be a lit- 

 tle contracted, but it is not unnaturally warm, nor is there 

 wincing on tapping the quarter or the sole to either side 

 of the body of the frog, with a hammer. This serves to 

 distinguish from disease of the small pulley-shaped bone 

 of the foot — the misnamed coffin-joint disease. Prossuie 



