705 
RUPTURE OF THE 
FLEXOR METATARSI. 
through a ring. If, while the foot is thus fixed, the animal fall, rupture 
is very apt to occur. It may also be caused by efforts to withdraw the 
foot fixed in the travis, or caught in railway points, or even in deep, soft 
ground, and sometimes fortns a sequel to collisions, slips, or getting over 
bales. It seldom follows external violence, though a case is recorded 
where the muscle was divided by a sharp stone. Klemrn recommended 
section of this tendon in the treatment of spavin. Rupture seldom 
Fig. 259.—Rupture of the flexor metatarsi. 
affects both limbs, and is rare in animals other than the horse, though 
several cases are reported in cows. In dogs, the tendon which corre¬ 
sponds to this muscle may be divided as a result of external injuries. 
Symptoms. This rupture is distinguished by lameness when the 
limb is carried, marked flexion of the stifle-joint, and excessive exten¬ 
sion of the hock. The symptoms are so marked that the condition can 
be diagnosed with absolute certainty, even from a distance. As the 
fibrous band stretching between the external condyle of the femur and 
the metatarsus is no longer able to transmit the movements of the femur 
v.s. z z 
