THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XVIII, No. 215. NOVEMBER 1845. New Series, No. 47. 
ON CARPITIS. 
By W. A. Cherry, VS. 
UNDER the term “carpitis” I propose to describe a disease of 
the knee-joint, which in its commonly existing form has never, as 
far as I am aware, been specifically described. 
The knee-joint itself has been considered to be exempt from 
disease, unless from the infliction of direct injury : indeed, so far 
did the late Professor Coleman carry his opinion on this subject, 
that he used to assert, in the most positive manner, that the knee 
was never the seat of lameness. 
The old farriers described a lameness as existing, not referrible 
either to the foot, fetlock, or shoulder, to which, from the peculia- 
rity of the gait, they gave the name of “ chest-founder.” From 
the very term employed, it is manifest that they were in ignorance 
of the seat and cause of such lameness. This term has been dis- 
carded by the modern veterinarian as “ barbarously ignorant;” 
but from its expressing so accurately the manner of a horse’s pro- 
gression under certain states of lameness, it was worthy of being 
more closely investigated before it was thrown aside. 
It was not until 1 became acquainted with disease of the knee- 
joint that I fully understood the applicability of their appellation ; 
but reflection has led me to believe that the old farriers’ term of 
“ chest-founder” must be considered a recognition of that disease 
to which I have given the name of “ carpitis,” albeit they de- 
scribed and treated of a symptom alone. 
The gait in chronic carpitis affecting both knee-joints gives to 
a rider the sensation of the chest being displaced from its right 
position, a sinking or “ foundering,” and which feels as if it would 
increase at every step of the horse. When attention is drawn to 
this peculiar gait, it is easy to be distinguished from the short cat- 
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