220 PKINOIPLES OP VETEEINAEY SUEGEET 



What anatomicaVlesions are found in tendinitis ? 



More or less laceration of tendon fibres, accompaniedby a 

 sero-hemorrbagic exudate infiltrating tbe interfasicular con- 

 nective tissue, is tbe first step. Nowtbe inflammation extends 

 to tbe peritendineum and paratendineum, causing a swelling- 

 of tendon as tbe exudate pusbes apart tbe bundles of tendoa 

 fibres. Tbe sero-bemorrbagic exudate first alluded to is 

 replaced by an invasion of tbe parts by leucocytes; new blood- 

 vessels and connective tissue are formed. Tbe granulatioa 

 tissue wbicb is formed springs mainly from tbe paratendi- 

 neum, tbe tendon sbeatb and a limited amount of it comes 

 Jrom tbe tendon cells of tbe ruptured tendon fibres. This 

 soft granulation tissue gradually undergoes cbanges until 

 eventually it becomes bard cicatrical tissue, wbicb may not 

 only be simply connective tissue, but in its transformation, 

 becomes cartilaginous or even bony. 



Tbree years ago, wbile studying double tibio peroneal 

 neurectomy, I bougbt two borses witb spavins. Tbese ani- 

 mals also suffered witb cbronic tendinitis. Microscopical 

 examinations made of tbe diseased tendons sbowed patcbes of 

 osseous tissue in tbe cbeek ligament of tbe perforans, espe- 

 cially abundant wbere tbe ligament blends witb tbe flexor 

 pedis perforans. 



What danger is connected with the formation of scar tissue in^ 

 tendinitis f 



It may lead to a tendogenous contracture and render tbft 

 animal a cripple. 



How is this brought about ? 



All scar tissue bas a tendency to retract. Consequently 

 tbe scar tissue tbe result of a tendinitis sbortens tbe tendon, 

 tbus altering materially tbe angularity of tbe various joints 



