THE EDINBURGH VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
505 
Under the head “ Sprains” are included cases of' sprain of the 
tendon of the flexor pedis posticus at the hock, of the tendon of the 
gluteus maximus, and of the flexor brachii : the majority of cases 
consists of sprains of the tendons and ligaments below the hock and 
knee. There is one case of sprain of the extensor metacarpi 
magnus above the knee : in this instance the part affected pre- 
sented the usual symptoms — swelling, heat, and pain ; when the 
extremity was raised from the ground, the shank dangled much 
about, the elevation of the limb was greater than natural, and the 
foot was placed upon the ground with considerable force in walking. 
One of the cases of sprain of the flexor brachii occurred in a bay 
carriage horse, belonging to J. Anstruther, Esq. The lameness was 
observed while staying at one of the watering places in England. 
He was considered by one of the parties consulted to be lame in 
the foot, and by another lame in the knee, and was blistered in 
both these places. No amendment, however, being observed, he 
was sent home. The seat of lameness was found to be the flexor 
brachii, over which a blister was applied, and in ten days after- 
wards the horse went sound. 
The disease termed “ Weed,” which consists of inflammation of 
the absorbents, mostly in the hind legs, is more frequent in this 
country than in most parts of England : the number of cases here, 
however, does not appear to be so great as formerly : this, in all 
probability, depends on the feeding and grooming of horses being 
much improved of late years. Out of the five cases reported this 
month, three occurred on Mondays, a day on which they are always 
most common. The frequency of the occurrence of the disease on 
this day can generally be accounted for on inquiry, by finding that 
the patient has been improperly fed for a time previously, which, 
together with standing in the stable for two nights and a day at 
the week’s end, and probably feeding grossly, appear to be the 
causes of the disease. It commences, or is rather observed, first in 
the inguinal lymphatic vessels and glands, which become much 
swollen and extremely painful, from these the swelling proceeds 
down the limb in the direction of the absorbents, and the inside of 
the thigh is frequently so painful that the horse is almost unable to 
walk. In ordinary cases recovery is not tedious : there are instances, 
however, in which permanent enlargement of the limb supervenes, 
and on a few occasions, in consequence of the extent to which the 
absorbent vessels are involved in disease, and from the length of 
time which their natural functions are interfered with, ulceration 
takes place, and the limb presents the appearance of being affected 
with farcy. 
3 z 
VOL. XIX. 
William Dick. 
