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EXTRACTS FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS. 
point where it glides over the sesamoids. On elevating the ten¬ 
dons, the joint is found open and the sesamoid bones broken into 
several pieces. Portions of the bones are adhering to the in¬ 
ferior extremity of the suspensory ligament, and other portions 
to the superior extremity of the inferior superficial sesamoid 
ligament. Both the inferior articular surface of the large meta¬ 
carpal and the superior articular surface of the os suffraginis give 
indications of long-standing disease. Absorption of the articular 
cartilage has taken place to a considerable extent. 
Right front limb .—To give anything like an accurate descrip¬ 
tion of the state of this limb is quite out of the question, for the 
simple reason that the joint is little more than a mass of broken 
bones, lacerated tendons and ligaments. The main features to 
be noticed are fracture of the sesamoid bones into innumerable 
small pieces, rupture of the fibres of the suspensory ligaments, 
and both a longitudinal and a transverse fracture of the inferior 
extremity of the large metacarpal bone. The longitudinal frac¬ 
ture has taken place directly through the centre of the bone, and 
the transverse breakage is about two inches from the extremity. 
Right hind limb .—There is considerable infiltration of blood 
into the areolar tissue around the joint. The tendons are in a 
normal state. There is a transverse fraction of each sesamoid, 
near to its base, and there is laceration of the fibres of the lower 
extremity of the suspensory ligament. 
Left hind limb .—Presents exactly the same appearance as the 
right hind joint. 
I have little more to add beyond the 'fact that the sesamoid 
bones in all four limbs seemed to have been in a diseased state 
for a considerable period previous to the accident. The bones, 
so far as one could judge by the naked eye, appeared to be 
spongy and brittle; and this, I have little doubt, was the case, 
considering the extent of the fractures, some of the bones having 
been broken into innumerable small pieces. 
One is naturally puzzled to account for such extensive frac¬ 
tures as occurred in this case, more particularly as the causes in 
operation seem to be inadequate to produce such marked results. 
It seems almost incredible that an animal trotting gently along a 
