132 
LAMENESS IN HORSES. 
WlNDGALL OF THE TENDO ACHILLIS. 
Dearth of names for diseases compels us on occasions, as in the 
present instance, to substitute some paraphrase designative of their 
seat or nature, or of some other striking attribute, for an appropriate 
appellation. The French call this disease vessignon souffte ; and 
it has something the appearance of an inflated bladder, running 
along the “ hamstrings” or united tendons of the gastrocnemii 
muscles. These tendons are enveloped in a cellular sheath, and 
between is a thecal cavity or sort of bursa, lined with synovial 
membrane, and lubricated by synovial fluid ; and this interspace 
or cavity it is which is the seat of the disease now under our 
consideration : it consisting, like windgall, in an undue secretion 
and collection of the synovial fluid. 
Windgall of the Tendo Achillis is comparatively rare. 
Now and then it is complicated with thorough-pin, but is rarely 
or never an accompaniment of capped hock. 
The CAUSES of this tumefaction being some extraordinary or 
unexpected tug, stretch, or strain of the hamstrings, and partaking 
as it sometimes does more of the nature of thecal sprain than of 
pure windgall. 
Lameness is an occasional Accompaniment, a constant 
one Hurtrel d’Arboval says; but our own practice has not ap¬ 
peared to confirm this. Should lameness be present, the case, of 
course, would call for 
Treatment. —And this should be commenced by the length¬ 
ening the caulkings of the shoe of the lame limb; it being of 
great consideration towards cure to diminish, to the utmost pos¬ 
sible extent, the dragging action of the muscles upon the tendons. 
This done, spongio-piline fomentation, evaporating or discutient 
lotions, a brisk cathartic, and absolute repose—the latter to be 
continued so long as lameness exists—will in time effect restora¬ 
tion of soundness, though tumour will still, to a greater or less 
extent, probably remain; to get rid of which we must employ 
iodine and mercurial ointments, or, if it be thought worth while, 
sweating blisters. 
Windgall of the Knee. 
The large extensor muscle of the cannon ( extensor metacarpi 
magnus), and the principal extensor muscle of the foot ( extensor 
pedis), taking their origin high up upon the arm, a little above 
the knee become tendinous; and their tendons, as they pass under¬ 
neath the anterior annular ligament, run through synovial sheaths, 
furnished with bur see mucosce. These vaginal bursse frequently— 
indeed commonly—are found to communicate with the middle 
