LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
601 
and knuckling-over fetlocks of aged horses, and horses that have 
performed a good deal of hard work, as well as in the shambling, 
shuffling, bone-setting gait they in consequence get into ; and we 
see what are generally received as unerring signs of it in the wind- 
galls upon their fetlock joints, upon-either the fore or hind legs, ac- 
cording as the nature of the work they have been doing has called 
the one or the other most into action. 
But distended and enlarged bursae exist in situations where 
there are no joints, and where the bursa? can have no connection 
with any joints. On such, work operates in a different manner. 
Continual forcible tension or strain upon any muscle or tendon has 
the effect, through the extraordinary pressure and motion conveyed 
to it, of producing excited action in the capillary system of the 
bursa or bursae such muscle or tendon plays over, the ordinate 
result of which is a distended or hypertrophic condition of such 
bursal structures. Bursal swellings of this description now and 
then occur upon the arms and hands of men, and are very apt to 
happen with laundresses in particular, in consequence of the exer- 
tion they are obliged to put their arms and hands to in washing. 
We remember to have seen a washerwomen’s arms and wrists 
literally beset with such tumours. We took the opportunity of 
making some inquiries of her concerning them. She disavowed 
feeling any pain, or indeed experiencing any inconvenience from 
their presence ; neither would she admit that they in any manner 
or degree detracted from her physical strength of hand or arm. Two 
inferences appeared deducible from this human case. One was, 
that the windgalls — ganglions as they are called by surgeons — 
had their origin in hard work ; the other, that numerous as they 
might be, and in the instance mentioned were, they were produc- 
tive neither of pain nor inconvenience, nor even diminished power. 
And when we come to apply these facts — for facts as respect 
windgalls generally they appear to be — to horses, we cannot but 
form opinions in our own minds somewhat at variance with the 
notions entertained by the horse public on this score. 
If with the Predisposition of the Young are combined 
THE Causes which produce windgall in the old or worked horse, 
the joints and bursae may naturally be expected to give way. 
Parts incompletely formed, but growing into the strength and sta- 
mina they are intended one day to possess, cannot bear usage 
which to adult limbs is only healthful exercise ; and therefore it 
happens that four and five year old horses, prematurely taken 
to be ridden or driven hard, or to be overworked in riding schools, 
exhibit bog spavins and thoroughpins so frequently, and now 
and then windgalls (commonly so called) as well. In fact, the 
young horse, and, in particular, such a one as is large and long 
