DISEASES OF TENDONS 225 



ieiidon is taxed as it receives the full shock by the weight of 

 the body as the animal jumps or gallops. 



In what animal is tendinitis of the superior sesamoidal liga- 

 ment usually seen ? 



More commonly in the saddle horse and trotter, for the 

 same reasons that the perforatus becomes diseased. In those 

 cases where this ligament gives way either partially or rup- 

 tures entirely, the fetlock descends more or less, a condition 

 termed by the sporting fraternity as " broken down tendons." 



Rupture of Tendons. 



What forms of tendon rupture are of interest f 



Incomplete and complete rupture. 

 What are incomplete tendon ruptv/res ? 



In these one or more tendon fibres, or possibly a little 

 bundle of tendon fibres, may give way, these ruptures being 

 microscopical in nature, and have just been fully dealt with 

 Tinder " Tendinitis." 



What are the causes of complete tendon ruptv/re ? 



They are the same as those of tendinitis, only in an exag- 

 gerated form. Thus, excessive stretching is the most common 

 traumatic cause. At the same time certain conditions predis- 

 pose the animal to these ruptures, as contagious pleuro-pneu- 

 monia, purpura hemorrhagica, or purulent tendovaginitis, and 

 the not uncommon chronic inflammation of the navicular 

 oursa. 



Which are the more comm,on tendon ruptures in animals ? 



Horse : Flexor pedis perf orans and pef oratus, superior 

 sesamoidal ligament and the flexor metatarsi. 



Cattle : Tendo Achilles and flexor metatarsi. 



