legs. Horses used for heavy draft are more liable to have the ligament
of the hind legs affected.

When the strain upon the suspensory ligament becomes too great, one or
both of the branches may be torn from the sesamoid bones, one or both of
the branches may be torn completely across, or the ligament may rupture
above the point of division.

_Symptoms._--The most common injury to the suspensory ligament is sprain
of the internal branch in one of the fore legs. The trouble is indicated
by lameness, heat, swelling, and tenderness of the affected branch,
beginning just above the sesamoid bone and extending obliquely downward
and forward to the front of the ankle. If the whole ligament is
involved, the swelling comes on gradually, and is found above the
fetlock and in front of the flexor tendons. The patient stands or walks
upon the toe as much as possible, keeping the fetlock joint flexed so as
to relieve the ligament of tension.

When both branches are torn from their attachments to the sesamoids, or
both are torn across, the lameness comes on suddenly and is most
intense; the fetlock descends, the toe turns up, and, as the animal
attempts to walk, the leg has the appearance of being broken off at the
fetlock. These symptoms, followed by heat, pain, and swelling of the
parts at the point of injury, will enable anyone to make a diagnosis.

_Treatment._--Sprain of the suspensory ligament, no matter how mild it
may be, should always be treated by enforced rest of at least a month,
and the application of cold douches and cold-water bandages, firmly
applied until the fever has subsided, when a cantharides blister should
be put on and repeated in two or three weeks if necessary. When rupture
has taken place the patient should be put into slings and a constant
stream of cold water allowed to trickle over the seat of injury until
the fever is reduced. In the course of a week or ten days a plaster of
Paris splint, such as is used in fractures, is to be applied and left on
for a month or six weeks. When this is taken off, blisters may be used
to remove the remaining soreness; but it is useless to expect a removal
of all the thickening, for, in the process of repair, new tissue has
been formed which will always remain.

In old cases of sprain the firing iron may often be used with good
results. As a rule, severe injuries to the suspensory ligament
incapacitate the subject for anything but slow, light work.

OVERREACH.

W