346 DISEASES OF THE HOESE. 



in well-bred animals of nervous temperament. Draft horses suffer 

 most frequently in the hind legs. 



Symptoms. — The injury is readily recognized by the changed aspect 

 of the region and the accompanying local symptoms. The parts, 

 which in health are well defined, with the outlines of the tendons and 

 ligaments well marked, become the seat of a swelling, more or less 

 developed, from a small spot on the middle of the back of the tendon 

 to a tumefaction reaching from the knee down to and even involving 

 the fet^loek itself. It is always characterized by heat, and it is vari- 

 ously sensitive, ranging from a mere tenderness to a degree of soreness 

 which shrinks from the lightest touch. The degree of the lameness 

 varies, and it has a corresponding range with the soreness, sometimes 

 showing only a slight halting and at others the extreme of lameness 

 on three legs, with intermediate -degrees. 



The lameness is always worse when the weight is thrown on the 

 foot, and is most marked toward the end of the phase of contact with 

 the ground. Either passive irritation of the leg or turning the ani- 

 mal in a circle causes pain as in diseases of the joints. Sometimes the 

 horse likes to get the heels on a stone or some elevation so as to relieve 

 the weight from the flexor tendons. Finally, in cases of long stand- 

 ing, a shortening of the tendons occurs, resulting in the abnormal 

 flexion of the foot known by horsemen as " broken down," or a more 

 upright position of the foot may follow, producing perhaps knuck- 

 ling or the so-called clubfoot. 



Prognosis. — It may be safely assumed on general principles that a 

 leg which has received such injuries very seldom returns to a perfect 

 condition of efficiency and soundness, and that as a fact a certain abso- 

 lute amount of thickening and deformity will remain permanent, even 

 when the lameness has entirely disappeared. 



Treatment.- — The injured member should receive the earliest atten- 

 tion possible, not only when the inflammatory condition is present, but 

 when it is subsiding and there is only the thickening of the ligaments, 

 the tendons, or the sheath. 



The most important remedy is rest, and the shoes should always be 

 removed. During the first three days cold in the form of immersion 

 or continuous irrigation is indicated. Then warm moisture and con- 

 tinuous pressure are advised. The latter is best applied by placing 

 two padded splints about the thickness of the thumb along the two 

 sides of the tendon and binding them in place with even pressure by 

 bandage. Frequent bathing with warm soap suds is also beneficial. 

 The absorption of the exudate may be promoted and the work of 

 restoration effected by frictions with alcohol, tinctuu-e of soap, spirits 

 of camphor, mild liniments, strong sweating liniments, and blisters. 

 An excellent ointment to apply with massage consists of equal parts 

 of blue ointment and green soap, with double the quantity of vaseline. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



