DISEASES OP SYNOVIAL SHEATHS OF TENDONS 



What are the causes of chronic dropsy of tendon sheaths 9 



Wind galls— as this condition is vulgarly termed— are the 

 result of repeated mechanical irritations of the tendon sheath 

 hy the friction upon its walls from the gliding of the tendon; 

 in other words, it is the sequel of a repeatedly occurring acute 

 serous tendovaginitis. 



In what animals is it common ? 



In all those doing continuously hard work ; therefore 

 occurs usually in the adult, being more frequently seen in the 

 Mndlegs than in the forelegs. 



Which are the most important galls of the sheaths of the 

 flexor tendon ? 



Foreleg : The perforans and perforatus, as they pass 

 through the carpal sheath, are enveloped by a synovial sheath, 

 which, when distended, appears as a longish swelling, as far 

 as four inches above the carpus, and runs down to the upper 

 third of the metacarpal bones. 



Chronic distention of the metacarpo-phalangeal sheath,, 

 which also forms an envelope common to the perforans and. 

 perforatus at the fetlock, represents the so-called wind galls^ 

 It forms a longish swelling, which, above the fetlock, is-. 

 divided into two swellings by the tendon extending to th©' 

 lower third of the metacarpal bones. Below the fetlock the- 

 swelling appears flattened and is by no means as often seen as- 

 the upper swelling. 



Hindleg : The flexor pedis perforans is enveloped by a 

 large synovial sheath occupying the internal and posterior 

 surface of the tarsal articulation ; that portion on the internal 

 face of the joint, when distended, appears as a globular en- 

 largement of variable size. 



