IIHKUMATISMAL INFLAMMATION. 
633 
whole extent of the sheath. In a very few cases the inflammation 
is extended to the two flexor tendons, invades their tissues, and 
gives birth to some remarkable pathological lesions which will 
presently be mentioned. 
The general symptoms vary according to the intensity of the dis¬ 
ease and the number of limbs affected. When the disease is limited 
to one fore-leg, a certain degree of lameness is observed, but the 
animal may, perhaps, preserve his appetite, and his general health 
may not be deranged: but if both the fore-legs are affected, the 
horse will exhibit all the signs of founder, although it is really a dif¬ 
ferent disease. He will have fever, he will refuse his food, his back 
will be bowed, his hind legs will be brought as far possible under 
him. If all four legs are attacked at the same time, he will be con¬ 
stantly down, and he will evidently be in a state of the most dreadful 
suffering. If he is not promptly relieved by active and rational treat¬ 
ment, he will beat himself about until he is covered with wounds, 
and will die of excess of fever. 
In the majority of cases, however, the original swelling and the 
lameness will gradually diminish, and, at the end of fifteen or 
twenty days, the horse will be well if proper treatment is adopted: 
but if the disease is neglected, many untoward local evils will take 
place. The inflammation will extend from side to side, and above 
and below, occupying not only the whole superior extent of the 
sessamoidal sheath, but also the cellular tissue that separates it 
from the metacarpal or metatarsal sheaths. The swelling will rapidly 
increase; the heat and pain will be excessive; the horse will not 
be able to rest on the affected limb without great pain, but will 
carry it extended before him. The inflammation will increase, 
unless the most active measures are employed; it will extend to 
the flexor tendons, and that portion of the serous membrane which 
lines the groove, in which the perforans moves. All the inflamed 
parts successively or simultaneously contract adhesions with each 
other to a greater or less extent, and form a tumour of considerable 
size, but not so painful as at the commencement of the disease. By 
degrees it becomes almost impossible for him to walk—the flexor 
tendons contract and become shortened—the pastern bone projects— 
and the horse can support himself only on the extremity of the 
toe. Having arrived at this point, the disease may be considered 
as all but incurable. If the horse is destroyed, the diseased parts 
will be found united together, confounded, and forming a white, 
homogeneous, slightly radiated mass, in which we should search in 
vain for the primitive organization. 
The causes of this disease are difficult to explain. It seems to 
have much analogy with “ la nerf-ferrure” or contusion of the 
flexor tendon; but they are altogether different affections in their 
VOL. XIII. 4 p 
