28 THE CANADIAN HOESB 



Few horses that have done any work are free from them ; 

 and, unless dependent on some more serious lesion than 

 simple distension of these bursw mucosoB, they^ are of no 

 consequence. 



Causes. — Hard work is the well-known cause of wind- 

 gall. In rapid motion, or heavy draught," the friction of 

 the tendons is greatly increased ; consequently, an increased 

 secretion of synovia is required, and takes place in all syno- 

 vial sacs during exercise ; but, if the action be not so vio- 

 lent as to strain the parts, it is speedily re-absorbed. On 

 the other hand, if the exertion be inordinate, these little 

 hurscB mucosce become injured, inflammation is set up, and 

 they become permanently enlarged. 



Again, the exertion may be so violent as to cause sprain 

 of the tendon, which extends to the capsule, or the joint 

 itself may suffer, and cause distension of the capsular liga- 

 ment constituting complicated wind-gall, which is more 

 serious. 



Symptoms. — Simple wind-galls are little, puffy swellings 

 seen at the sides of the tendons as they pass over the fetlock- 

 joint, most common on the hind-leg. They are soft even 

 when the weight is thrown on them. It is very important to 

 be able to distinguish between simple and complicated, or be- 

 tween the harmless and what is not harmless. If situated 

 between the tendon and the suspensory ligament, it depends 

 on distension of the bursae through which the tendon passes ; 

 if it feels hard when the other leg is held up, and is accompa- 

 nied with slight lameness, the tendon is implicated. When 

 placed in front of the suspensory ligament, between it and the 

 bone, it is accompanied with increase of synovia in the joint 

 itself. ' ^ • 



, Wind-galls generally appear suddenly. 



Treatment. — Simple wind-galls, if taken at the outset, 



