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INFLAMMATION OF THE FLEXOR TENDONS. 
on the horse’s part, as for instance when the animal unexpectedly steps 
into a hole. Heavy work is another well-recognised cause of strain of 
the check ligament in cart-horses. In this the case injury is probably 
inflicted in starting the load. The animal leans forward in the collar, 
and before actually commencing to pull causes excessive dorsal flexion of 
the fetlock. At this moment the perforans muscle is relaxed and a 
heavy strain thrown on the check ligament, which may be strained. 
Closely similar conditions prevail when the horse is drawing a load up a 
steep hill. The injury occurs during relaxation of the perforans muscle. 
In the hind limbs the portions of the flexor pedis perforans tendon which 
suffer oftenest are those lying just above the fetlock or below the hock. 
Bruising rarely causes inflammation of tendons, though the condition is 
seen in the flexor perforatus, its surperficial situation more readily allow¬ 
ing of injury from kicks, &c. This kind of injury has been repeatedly 
seen in riding-horses, particularly in race-horses, where the tendon 
is struck by the hind foot of the same side. Inflammation sometimes 
extends from the tendon sheaths or articular surfaces to the flexor 
tendons; and the form associated with infectious diseases, and occurring 
during convalescence from thoracic influenza, always starts in the 
tendon sheath. Schrader, who carefully described this disease, found 
that the first sign of inflammation is a peculiar semi-soft swelling just 
above the fetlock, which extends thence to the perforans and perforatus 
tendons. One-sixth of all his cases convalescent from thoracic influenza 
showed it, but the disease disappeared again in twelve to twenty-four 
hours; Moller has often seen a similar appearance, and looks on such 
cases as due to secretory metastasis. In convalescents the inflammation 
sometimes originates in the perforans tendon, particularly when animals 
are worked too early. The interference with general nutrition produced 
during the disease is probably the predisposing cause. 
The greater number of cases described as inflammation of the tendons 
are, doubtless, really due to reparative processes consequent on partial 
rupture, as shown by their course and termination. The persistence of 
thickening points to extensive damage, and is therefore unfavourable. 
This extra deposit is necessary for recovery, but tendons thus thickened 
never attain their primary strength or condition. 
A number of Spiroptera reticulata were found in the suspensory 
ligament of a horse which had been chronically lame in consequence of 
swelling of the ligament. No treatment had proved of any service. 
Symptoms. Inflammation of the llexor tendons is accompanied by 
the following symptoms :—• 
(1) Lameness, which vaiies according to the position and extent of 
injury. The form seen after influenza is usually the most painful, that 
following mechanical injury of the perforans less so. In inflammation of 
