Special Injuries of Bones, Joints and Muscles. 355 



lameness is most puzzling as the broken ends of the bone 

 are held together by fibrous tissue, and though they move 

 hinge-like no grating is produced. Then the bone is so 

 deeply covered by muscle that it cannot be felt. A blow 

 on the outer side of the hind leg, just below the stifle, in- 

 ducing persistent lameness, with tenderness on pressure 

 along the line of the bone on the outer side of the hmb, 

 and without any other apparent injury, implies fracture of 

 this bone. 



Treatment. A month's absolute rest and one or more 

 bhsters over the seat of injury. 



SPKAIN OE LACERATION OF THE MUSCLE WHICH BENDS 

 THE HOCK. 



This is often sprained at its lower part, and especially 

 in its inner branch which passes over the front and inner 

 side of the lower part of the hock joint, giving rise to a 

 swelling exactly in the seat of bone spavin. It is dis- 

 tinguished by its tense, elastic nature and by its position 

 on this tendon rather than above or below it. 



Treatment. A smart blister, or this failing, evacuate 

 with a fine nozzle of a hypodermic syringe and then apply 

 a wet bandage or blister. This form is rarely hurtful. 



When more severely sprained the swelling, heat and 

 tenderness may be felt in front of the hock or on the 

 anterior and outer side of the stifle according to the seat 

 of injury. ' The limb is usually carried very straight, there 

 being little or no bending of either hock or stifle. It is 

 to be treated in the ordinary way by soothing measures 

 followed by blisters or firing. 



Lacerations of the muscle, or more frequently rupture of 

 the tendon occurs, causing the hock to be carried straight 

 and the shank dangling nearly in a line with the leg. In 

 some instances from violent contraction of the extensor 

 muscles, the foot may be jerked out backward when the 

 patient is started. In injury to the muscle there is at 

 first a depression at the part with swelling above and 



