166 FRACTURE OF THE SESAMOID BONE. 
In the Veterinarian , vol. iii, Mr. Fuller, of March, re¬ 
cords a case of a horse being destroyed for rupture of the 
perforans and perforatus tendons of the near fore leg, the 
sesamoid bone being found fractured in a transverse direction. 
No mention is made of any crepitus being detected, but 
probably, as the horse was at once destroyed, this was not 
noticed. 
Yol. v also contains a report of a case by Mr. Harris, of 
Preston. The horse was galloped rapidly about 100 
yards, when he fell, and was with difficulty got to his stable, 
about two miles away. There was considerable swelling in 
the off fore leg, the fetlock nearly touched the ground, and 
on the animal's attemping to walk great pain was evinced. 
A slight crepitus could be felt, but not the exact seat of 
mischief. 
Mr. Harris considered it a hopeless case, but the owner 
would have some treatment attempted. The horse was bled 
and physicked, and cold lotions and bandages applied to the 
part. Two days after, bony spiculm protruded, and he was 
destroyed. The inner sesamoid bone was found shivered to 
atoms. 
In this case I consider that either the perforans and per¬ 
foratus tendons, or the suspensory ligament, was severed to 
account for the fetlock nearly touching the ground. 
Mr. Blandy's horse did not fall, neither were the tendons 
or ligaments injured; the swelling was inconsiderable, and 
the foot was slightly rested. 
What may we consider was the exciting cause to produce 
the paraplegia ? 
The horse had been hunted for the first time, but he had 
been carefully prepared and had daily exercise, w r as not 
ridden hard, nor exposed to cold or wet, or fell or cast, or 
rolled in his box. Turning suddenly round to follow 
another horse, and perhaps making at the time an unconscious 
movement, might have caused the injury, as it was then he 
gave the peculiar grunt. Or was it now that the rupture in 
the mesocolon occurred ? 
In all cases of obstruction of the bowels, whether arising 
from calculi, polypi, introsusception, &c., we find the pain 
most excruciating; but in this case it scarcely amounted to 
more than uneasiness, although, if disease had been allowed 
to run its whole course, most likely the pain would have been 
increased as death approached, because at the time I gave the 
prussic acid he was suffering more than he had at all 
before. 
Perhaps the slightness of the pain may be due to the 
