PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 621 



Of this number 30 per cent were in the fetlock. Detach- 

 ments in the other articulation is less frequent. 



Flatter has described two cases of detachment of the 

 tendo-Achilles, which at the autopsy showed also a partial 

 disinsertion of the caput muscles at the olecranon. 



]\Iarcone gives accounts of some observations of tendin- 

 ous and ligamentous ruptures in horses apparently sound, 

 1)ut which in reality were affected with a generalized ostei- 

 tis that was amply proven by minute microscopic examina- 

 tion of the skeleton. A horse six years' old, in good condi- 

 tion and of beautiful appearance, when brought from the 

 stable to be hitched with another horse, exhibited an in- 

 tense lameness with painful tumefaction of the fetlock. 

 When examined the articulation was found to be the seat 

 of exaggerated movements. The flexors gave way, and as 

 a result, the extension of the articulations became abnor- 

 mal. In the course of a few days the weight was supported 

 upon the posterior surface of the fetlocks, and the animal 

 died in agony. The autopsy disclosed complete detachment 

 of the inferior ligaments, the free extremities of which were 

 covered with blood and rough from the presence of small, 

 bony splinters. The flexor tendons were studded with 

 h^emorrhagic spots. A study of the skeleton demonstrated 

 the existence of a generalized osteoporosis. 



In another case studied by Marcone the question had 

 been raised as to whether a certain horse had been suffering 

 with rheumatism. At the autopsy the perforans tendons 

 of the hind legs were found detached from the semi-lunar 

 ridges, riddled with hasmorrhagic dots, and considerably 

 thickened. Their extremities were studded with osseous 

 debris, and the navicular bone was detached as the conse- 

 quence of laceration of its ligaments, besides being frac- 

 tured in the antero-posterior direction: In the right foot 

 the navicular bone was fractured in two places. 



