630 
Communications and Cases. 
SESAMOIDITIS; 
OR THE SEAT OF OBSCURE LEG-LAMENESS OF HORSES 
UNMASKED. 
By James Turner, M.R.C.V.S., Regent Street. 
(Continued from p. 187.) 
With the hope of substantiating the views which I have 
for many years propounded to the veterinary profession, of 
the formidable character of this disease, it is my intention to 
publish a series of sesamoidal cases, with their histories; 
such illustrations being especially called for, as the extreme 
complexity of the treble joint involved, gives rise to numerous 
varieties of the complaint, some being readily apparent both 
to sight and touch, and others occult in the living animal. 
I am, however, constrained abruptly to put forth two cases 
instanter , because they are in point, and happen to have just 
fallen under my dissecting-knife through fortuitous cir- 
cumstances. 
First Case . — A street cab mare, a small game animal, 
thorough bred, or nearly so, very lame of her near fore leg, 
but workable. The flexor tendons, the suspensory ligament, 
and all the other ligaments of the affected limb, were clean 
and perfectly sound. Two indications only were present to 
guide to the exact seat of mischief, and which, to the common 
observer, would have passed unheeded, while an experienced 
eye w ould have discovered ample for his accurate diagnosis ; 
viz., a small angular tumour jutting out from the inner ankle, 
about the seat of the common cutting place, or rather behind 
it, of the size only of a small hazel nut, solid to the feel as 
bone, and conspicuous to the sight; the other accompaniment 
being preternatural heat over the fetlock joint generally, with 
intensity of heat towards its inner front. 
Dissection of the Limb. — Immediately on the removal 
of the common integuments, a small node presented itself, 
w T hich proved to be exostosis of the external surface of the inner 
sesamoid bone. 
Upon making an opening into the capsule of the joint, 
which forms a theca for the passage of the flexor tendon, 
there w^as observed to be a total absence of synovia, or fluid of 
any kind ; but, although nothing remained to lubricate the 
parts, no adhesions had been formed. 
