44 SPRAINS. 



Its hardness is due to the fact that the part admits of but little 

 room for distension. Sesamoiditis appears to be caused by the 

 tearing away of some of the fibres of the suspensory ligament from 

 the sesamoid bones to which they were attached. It is a serious 

 and intractable disease; for although the lameness may disappear 

 with rest, it will certainly return if the animal be put to hard work. 

 " Knuckling over " is, as a rule, the result of sprain and severe 

 work, and is due to relaxation of the lateral ligaments of the fetlock 

 joint. In young horses it is sometimes caused by weakness. 



TREATMENT FOR SPRAIN OF THE FETLOCK JOINT AND 

 FOR SESAMOIDITIS.— See this page et «eg. 



Sprain of the Inferior Sesamoid Ligaments. 



These ligaments, three in number, lie at the back of the pastern, 

 and proceeding from the base of the sesamoid bones,, connect them 

 with the pastern bones. Their office is to aid in preventing over- 

 extension of the fetlock joint, and support the limb during muscular 

 repose while the horse is standing, in conjunction with the perforans 

 tendon and check ligament. 



SYMPTOMS. — The part is hot, swollen, and tender ; the synovial 

 sac which is at the back of the pastern, and immediately below the 

 fetlock joint, being distended with fluid. The horse endeavours to 

 relieve the injured structures by keeping the fetlock joint bent, 

 and tries to avoid bringing the heel to the ground. There is great 

 lameness. 



Treatment of Sprains below Knee and Hock. 



In treating these accidents, the inexperienced horse-owner need 

 not concern himself much, if he be unable to determine the exact 

 . structure involved, so long as he can find out the seat of injury ; for 

 all these tendons and ligaments, when sprained, can be treated in 

 the same way. It is advisable in such cases to rely solely on 

 uniformly distributed pressure, massage, and passive exercise. I 

 apply the pressure in the following manner, for sprain of the back 

 tendons, suspensory ligament, or check ligament, for instance. The 

 modifications necessary for its application to the fetlock joint, hock, 

 or pastern are self-evident. 



Take two yards of cotton wadding (which can be obtained from 

 any draper), and cut it down the centre, so as to have two strips, 

 each a couple of yards long and about 10 inches wide. In some 

 shops, cotton wadding is sold in short pieces, instead of in long 



