6G8 
ON CARPITIS. 
while, perhaps, truly it more often suffers than any other, its 
complexity would render it more liable to injury; and though a 
very strong joint, it is more adapted to bear weight and exertion 
than to resist a straining or tugging in an opposite direction. 
The third case is illustrative of the uncertainty of the cure of the 
disease, and for the result from neurotomy, which fully bears out 
the view taken of the non-efficiency of that operation before its per- 
formance : it farther illustrates the control that there is over the 
disease when proper treatment is adopted, though that may not, 
either from its long continuance, extent of disease, or from some 
peculiar idiosyncrasy, be of lasting or useful continuance. 
The first case is simply illustrative of the speedy and favourable 
result of the treatment adopted. I could give very many more 
cases, but the above shew enough to support my views of the 
disease in its various forms. 
The horses most likely to be the subjects of this disease are those 
with straight upright legs and short pasterns, because in those the 
weight is thrown directly upon the bony column ; and I have noticed 
that horses with legs of this description have generally but small 
knee joints. 
I am disposed to entertain a belief that there is in some horses 
an hereditary idiosyncrasy to this disease : be this as it may, half- 
bred are much more prone to it than thorough-bred horses. 
Of the morbid condition of the joint, either 
L. Simple inflammation of the ligaments of the joint; 
2. Simple inflammation of the synovial membrane; 
3. Inflammation followed by deposit of osseous matter consolidat- 
ing or obliterating one or more of the lower joints of the carpus ; 
4. Inflammation extending to the articular cartilage or body of 
the bone or bones terminating in ulcerative absorption, accompanied 
with deposit of osseous matter around the diseased portion ; 
5. Ulceration, absorption of synovial membrane, articular carti- 
lage, and body of the bone, either together or separately, and pro- 
gressing insidiously without shewing any very marked symptoms 
of the diseased state of the joint, and which state is considered to 
exist without the presence of inflammation; 
6. Combinations of the above. 
I have placed under the foregoing heads the different morbid con- 
ditions in which I have found the parts constituting the knee joint. 
The first and most simple I believe to be inflammation of the 
ligaments, and the one which perhaps the most frequently occurs : 
it is the result of either sudden injury, or most generally from over- 
exertion too long continued or too often repeated. Should this be 
overlooked, or not yield to treatment, or, from its oft recurrence, it 
will extend to the periosteum, and produce consolidation of one or 
