ON METACARPITIS. 
135 
only understood generally on this point. But when, in lameness of 
the fore limb, there is no heat or enlargement of the knee-joint, or 
the flexor tendons, or their sheath, or the body or branches of the 
suspensory ligament, or the seat of splent, or inflamed bursse, or 
ringbone, or ossified cartilages, or navicular disease, or other plain 
and palpable disease of foot or leg ; but when la meness is present, 
with the leg clean and oftentimes cold, no external or recognizable 
indication to account for the existing lameness, then I say that we 
may, with tolerable probability of being correct, refer it to the 
origin of the suspensory ligament : it will be what I have termed 
“ Metacarpitis 
When a similar kind of lameness, situate in the hind limb, and 
no symptom of spavin or disease of foot or leg is manifest, so may 
we refer the probable seat to the head of the suspensory ligament ; 
in which case, for distinction sake, we may use the term “ Meta- 
tar sitis” 
This form of disease I have noticed to be of more frequent oc- 
currence amongst well-bred horses than under-bred ones; and also 
as another curious fact, that the legs the most subject to it are 
the clean and wiry-looking. I account for this peculiarity in this 
way, — that these are the kind of legs the structure of which is 
particularly dense and tough, and therefore a degree of violence 
which is sufficient to injure the sinews of a less firm limb, is not 
sufficient to affect the sinews of a wiry one, such as I have been 
endeavouring to describe. Such a leg resists or does not yield 
to the ill effects of continued severe exertion until after a long 
period, or some injury of greater severity than usual; and when 
such yielding does take place, it will be at the weakest part, and 
in this kind of leg, that is, the periosteum situate at the posterior 
part of the metacarpal or metatarsal bones, from the constant or 
severe strain applied to it through the attachment of the suspen- 
sory ligament, this membrane having more active vitality than 
the bone or suspensory ligament, and from the increased density 
of these latter parts giving them the preponderance, the general 
equally existing balance of power or strength is lost, and the more 
vascular part gives way : therefore it follows that we shall find it 
of less frequent occurrence in limbs of less dense character, and 
which more particularly belong to under-bred horses. In these 
latter, the sinews, joints, bursae, &c. are the weakest, and there- 
fore yield sooner than the periosteum : thus, the character of limb 
which would be most prone to carpitis or spavin would be less 
prone to metacarpitis or metatarsitis ; and such is practically 
shewn by the result of my observations deduced from the morbid 
specimens which have passed under my notice, the bulk shewing 
but slight or not any indications of either of those diseases ; and 
it is probable that this disease, being occasionally the result of 
