32 



HORSESHOEING. 



FlQ. 16. 



2. The deep flexor ov perforans tendon (Figs. 15, a, and 16, c) 

 is cylindrical and stronger than the perforatus tendon ; above the 

 fetlock-joint it lies between the perfo- 

 ratus and the suspensory ligament of the 

 fetlock. At the sesamoid bones it passes 

 through the ring formed by the perfo- 

 ratus tendon (Fig. 15, h'\ then becomes 

 broad and double-edged, passes between 

 the two terminal branches of the perfo- 

 ratus, ghdes over the fibro-cartilage of 

 the second phalanx and over the inferior 

 surface of the navicular bone, and finally 

 ends on the semilunar crest of the third 

 phalanx. In common with the perforatus 

 tendon it flexes the foot. 



If at a point a few inches above the 

 fetlock a limb be cut through from be- 

 hind, the knife will pass successively 

 through the following structures: skin, 

 perforatus tendon, perforans tendon, sus- 

 pensory ligament, cannon bone, lateral 

 extensor tendon, anterior extensor ten- 

 don, and, lastly, the skin on the anterior 

 surface of the limb. The flexor tendons 

 are frequently thickened and shortened 

 by inflammation due to injury, and as a 

 result the foot is pulled backward and the 

 hoof gradually becomes more nearly up- 

 right, — i.e., stubby, steep-toed. A knowl- 

 edge of the normal condition of the ten- 



Eight forefoot seen from behind and a little from the external side : o, perforatus tendon ; 

 6, terminal branches of the same ; c, perforans tendon ; d, annular ligament which attaches 

 to the sesamoid bones ; d', the " x" ligament, which attaches itself by four branches to the os 

 suffraginis ; d," an upper branch of the same (the lower branches are not shown in the figure) ; 

 e, reinforcing sheath of the perforans tendon, covering the under surface of the latter and 

 attached by its branches at ef to the lower end of the os suflEraginis ; /, suspensory ligament of 

 the fetlock. 



