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LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
sist of any thing but blood poured out from ruptured vessels ; on 
the other hand, supposing, as in the ordinary case, some time 
intervene between the sustaining of the injury and the appearance 
of the tumour, we take it for granted that the effusion is of the 
usual sero-synovial character, gravitating to the bottom of the 
sac. Frequently, in slight strains, it is not until the day follow- 
ing that on which the accident happened that any swelling is 
discoverable. I will relate a case to illustrate this. 
SEPT. 4th, 1848. One of the horses composing the Queen’s 
Guard, after having walked perfectly soundly to the Horse Guards 
on the day before, in turning out to return to Hyde Park Barracks, 
was found to be so lame that, at the moment, it was thought he 
was seized with the “ cramp.” Nevertheless, he was brought to 
the Barracks, and there shewn to me. By that time he was so 
far recovered that he walked sound, but still evinced lameness in 
the trot. On examination, I discovered a little below the back of 
the knee, on the inner side of the leg, a puffy tumour extending 
half way down ; not particularly tender to pressure, nor hot to the 
feel ; and yet the sole apparent cause of the existing lameness. 
It manifestly consisted of an accumulation of fluid within the 
sheath of the flexor tendons. The rationale of the case in my 
mind being, that the horse had sprained his leg on going on guard 
the day before. 
The above is what usually happens. But it is possible a sprain 
may not evince any signs of its presence for two or three days 
afterwards. A horse in the Regent Park Barracks was admitted 
into the Infirmary for “ lameness,” the seat of which, in the ab- 
sence of any external sign, it was conjectured at the time might 
be in the foot. On the fourth day after his admission sprain of 
the flexor tendons patently shewed itself. 
On the other hand, in severe cases, the sprain may declare itself 
even at the moment of the accident. My regiment was out exer- 
cising on Wormwood Scrubs. A charge was made across the 
ground. The horses were no sooner pulled up than one was found 
“ dead lame.” My assistant was instantly called to the spot, and 
found a “ lump” upon the flexor tendon, above the middle of the 
leg, which convinced him the horse was sprained; or, as by those 
around it was called, “ broke down.” In this case blood must 
have become extravasated. 
The bursal tumour may, then, be regarded as the simplest form 
of lesion from sprain. Beyond this, there may be similar effu- 
sions, producing “ knots,” in the lower division of the sheath ; or 
there may be sero -albuminous effusion, generally, into the cellular 
tissue investing the tendons, filling up the intervals between them, 
and giving the leg that aspect and feel which is denominated 
