390 DISEASES OF TIJE HOBSE. 



cavities have been emptied and have closed by filling up with granu- 

 lations, or if, not being opened, the contents have been reabsorbed, 

 and there remains in either case a plastic exudation and a tendency 

 to the callous organization that may yet exist, blisters under their 

 various forms, including those of cantharides, of mercury, and of 

 iodin, are then indicated, principally in the early stages, as it is then 

 that their effects will prove most satisfactory. The use of the actual 

 cautery, with fine points, penetrating deeply throughout the enlarge- 

 ment, has in our hands, when used in the very early stages of its for- 

 mation, nearly always brought on a radical recovery with complete 

 absorption of the thickening. 



STRINGHALT. 



This is an involuntary movement of one or both hind legs, in which 

 the foot is suddenly and spasmodically lifted from the ground much 

 higher than it is normally carried, with excessive flexion of one bone 

 upon the other. This peculiarity is usually prominent, although it 

 may disappear with work, only to reappear after a short rest. Some- 

 times it is most apparent at a trot, sometimes at a walk, and other 

 times only when turned around ; or it may not be affected by the gait 

 of the horse. It does not seem to be influenced by the horse's age, 

 young and old being alike affected. Its first manifestations are some- 

 times very slight. It has been noticed as occurring in an animal 

 when backing out of his stable and ceasing immediately after. In 

 some animals it is best seen when the animal is turning around on 

 the affected leg, and it is not noticed when he moves straight for- 

 ward. That this^ peculiar action interferes with facility of locomo- 

 tion and detracts from a horse's claim to soundness can not for a 

 moment be denied. 



Cause. — Veterinarians and pathologists are yet in doubt in respect 

 to the cause of this affection, as well as to its essential nature. 

 Whether it results from disease of the hock, of an ulcerative charac- 

 ter ; whether it springs from a malformation ; whether it is a short- 

 ening of the ligaments, a chronic inflammation of the sciatic nerve, or 

 a disease of the spinal cord ; whether it is purely a muscular or purely 

 a nervous lesion, or a compound of both — it still continues, if an 

 etiologist is bound to possess universal knowledge within the scope of 

 his special studies, to be his reproach and his puzzle. 



Treatment. — ^When there is a known or suspected cause the treat- 

 ment should be directed toward this factor. If due to local inflamma- 

 tion of the hock or foot, only this local lesion should be treated. If 

 it remains after the local lesion has healed, or if we have no assign- 

 able cause, the best results have followed the sectioning of the lateral 

 extensor of the foot. A competent veterinarian alone should under- 

 take this operation. 



