242 VETEEINARY STATE BOARD 



skin on the opposite side. Turn the cutting edge against the tendon, 

 which is rendered tense by an assistant, and cut through it. When 

 completely severed, resistance to extension ceases. Remove the 

 knife and bandage the wound. Healing should occur by first inten- 

 tion if careful antisepsis is observed. Keep the animal standing 

 and exercise moderately for the first few days following operation. 



Give the causes, symptoms and treatment of inflammation of the flexor 

 tendons. 



Causes: Strains from slipping, improper shoeing (low heels and 

 long toes), heavy pulling, jiunping, continued standing in thoracic 

 diseases or lameness in the opposite leg. 



Symptoms : Supporting-leg lameness. The foot is extended for- 

 ward or held with the heels raised. Shortening of the last phase of 

 movement is noted. Local pain, swelling and warmth. In later 

 stages, there may be shortening of the tendons and continuous volar 

 flexion together with uprightness of the hoof. Weight is now placed 

 on the leg. In shortening of the flexor pedis perf oratus, the obliquity 

 of the pastern joint only is affected, the hoof remaining in a normal 

 position. 



Treatment : Rest and cold applications for the first day or two. 

 Then, moist warmth, massage and infrictions with mild blistering 

 agents are used. Old thickenings are best treated by firing. Shoe 

 with a low toe-caJk and elevated heel-calks. In chronic cases accom- 

 panied by shortening, tenotomy offers the only relief. See preced- 

 ing question. 



Give the causes, symptoms, prognosis and treatment of sprain of the 

 inferior suspensory ligament. 



Causes and symptoms are about the same as in tendinitis as de- 

 scribed in preceding answer. Lameness is not so marked. Tender- 

 ness is detected by pressing in deep close to the bone and anterior 

 to the tendons with the foot raised. Chronic cases, accompanied 

 by shortening, affect only the obliquity of the pastern, the hoof 

 remains in a normal position. 



Prognosis: Favorable. 



Treatment: Same as for inflamed tendons. Raising the heels, 

 however, does no good in this case and cutting of the ligament is not 

 generally employed. 



What is the etiology of splint? 



Splints are due to a periostitis which develops between the large 

 and the inner small metacarpal bones. Rarely, between the large 

 and outer bone. This periostitis is due to traumatic irritation of 



