TENDON OF ORIGIN OF BICEPS AND ITS BURSA 119 



bursa. Such injuries frequently occur in young horses which strike the 

 shoulder when rushing through doorways or gateways. 



The condition leads to a characteristic lameness. As would naturally 

 be expected, the animal is unable to flex the elbow and pull the limb 

 forwards, owing to the great pain experienced in the affected structures 

 which are involved in this movement. The fore-quarters are carried at 

 a high level. The hind limbs are brought forward well under the 

 body, and an endeavour is made to throw the weight of the body on to 

 these limbs, since no weight can be carried by the limb affected. The 

 injured limb rests on the toe and posteriorly to the sound fore limb. 

 The part swells owing to the exudation of serous fluid. There is much 

 heat in the part, and pain is evinced on palpation. This is the acute 

 stage, but as the condition advances and becomes chronic, the surface of 

 the cartilage covering the bicipital groove becomes eroded and the 

 opposed surface of the tendon much roughened. The condition may 

 advance to such a degree that the tendon becomes firmly attached to 

 the bicipital groove. 



In the chronic stages of the disease treatment is rarely of any use, 

 and the animal is usually destroyed. In the acute stages treatment is at 

 times successful, particularly if lameness is not very severe and the 

 animal is able to bear some weight with the limb. But even in these 

 cases a prolonged course of treatment extending to from eight to ten 

 weeks is necessary, so that the value of the animal must be taken into 

 consideration when offering advice. Prognosis should always be guarded, 

 on account of the great tendency which the affection has to become 



chronic. 



Treatment in the earlier stages consists in procuring complete rest, 

 and in cold applications to the affected area such as continuous irrigation 

 with cold water by means of a hose-pipe thrown over the withers and 

 tied to the roller in such a manner that the nozzle of the pipe is situate 

 just above the shoulder joint. 



Some counter-irritant such as a liniment or blister is later applied, or 



