LAMENESS IN HORSES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1975, 4 February 1914, Page 5

LAMENESS IN HORSES.

HOW TO DEE WITH IT. ADDRESS BY MR, QUINNEU* An interesting address, dealing with lameness in horses, was delivered by Mr. W. C. Quinnell, M.R.C.V.S., at the aunual meeting of the Society-for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals last night. In the course of his remarks Mr. Quinneil said that it was a painful reflection that the advance of civilisation seemed ever to be accompanied by an aggravation of certain ovils, and in no instance was this nioro marked than in tire terrible amount of suffering unnecessarily endured by the horse. This animal, pre-eminently tho most useful to mail, was the one upon which was inflicted, either wantonly or through sheer ignorance, or thoughtles6iiess; the greatest amount of cruelty. - Tlio records of all humane societies showed that, of prosecutions for cruelty to animals, an overwhelming majority refer to the horse, and of these a large portion were for working horses while suffering from lameness, tti ono form or other.'_ Lameness vns only a symptom of disease. It might be produced oither by pain, by inability, by malformation, or by accident, or' it might , arise from diseasa of the brain or nervous system as in injuries of the spinal etc.- Lameness was• usually, but not invariably, a sign of pain. In ■anchylosis of a, joint, for instance, there was decided lameness from mechanical impediment, but iio pain. Again, loss of elasticity of movement, such, as was common in old horses or in animals which had done much work, might exist to a degree scarcely distinguishable ■from lameness. It might at first sWit seem a very simple thing to say whether a horse was lanio or not. It was not so, however, in many cases. Old or hard-w;orked horses, as just mention-' ed. sometimes got stiff to a degree, which rr.itht easily ho mistaken for lameness, unless' due allowance was mad© for age, etc. Again, some horses, which were very wide in their chests, roll in t'heif action to an excessive degree. Other horses, if constantly driven in.harness, acquired a peculiar hitch in their tret," which; w-as really not, lameness. If the animal 'was sound, this would probably disappear when the horse was trotted slowly in hand with, a very loos©, rein. Others, especially young worses, when first put on the bit and from not working properlv up to it,-move in a peculiar manner, which was sometimes, known as' "bridle lameness." If tho animal he led with a'oose snaffle rein or halter on the side opposite to that on. which lie was bridle lame the nnevenness of gait would 'disappear.

'- Detection of Lamonoss." 'In some cases the seat and cause of lameness is obviou'S enough, but not infrequently it is obscure, sometimes very obscure. Lameness,;by its unequal gait, makes ipuch experience necessary to detect .tho leg upon which the horse is lame, especially if the lanieiitjsa is slight. Still more experience, with a certain amount of anatomical and physiological knowledge, was necessary tg discover in many cases whero the seat of lameness lay. - Almost every cause of lameness had, however, somo peculiarity in its symptoms'by which it might bo distinguished.. Occasionally the difficulty of ascertain/-• ing_ the :real causo was. aggravated by the. ' existence ;of more than one cause, sufficient to account for.'tlie lameness., cr tho horse might be lamo in more than olio, place, as, for instance, in both forelegs, or .feet),, but perhaps not equally so in each, or in both' lmid, but not alike in each, or in. one hind and olio foreleg, and so on. In such complicated cases tho aniiiial saves tho lame leg or legs by throwing his weight on tho sound oiies in so peculiar a manner, that great and constant practice was needed to form a correct opinion; or, again, a secondary cause, such as corns, might modify the symptoms of a more serious disease.

Methods of Examination. It was essential that tbi horse should have been in a stato of rest for soflw hours previous to being examined as to soundness. vSome ailments were not noticeable, and many ailments wore less, noticeablo after a horse had been a little time .in exercise. For examination, tho horse should be led out with a long snafflo rein, ivitli his head as loosa as possible, at a, very slow trot. Slight cases of lameness veto most easily detected when a horse was. trotted away at once than if previously walked up jintt down. Thero should he nothing.to excito him! Lameness might escape detection »if tho animal was excited. The horse should then be led at a Walk, and the very first movements should be watched to observe if the animal trips or knuckles, and also bow ho puts down bis feet, whother lie uses them both alike, and whether ho flexes his hocks equally. All defects and deviations from true and level action were 'more noticeable in tho lirst step or two than afterwards. Tho examiner should know ill© feel of a horso under Mto—whether ho goes'quick and short, or rolls as tho result.of natural conformation, Or from, impairment of structure. Tho ago, and work which the animal has done, must also bo .taken into consideration. The exces-sivo degree of stiffness, sometimes observable in oM horses, has occasionally led to ' contradictory decisions among votbriuafy surgeons as to their being lamo or sound. Even with expert evidence, that of the experience of ago is to. bo preferred to that of tho incxpcriffttcQ of youth. Again, a hor.'o, when examined, may bo lamo from some temporary accidental cause, such as picking up a stone, 'hitting ono leg against tho other, or from sucblike causes, and this lameness may disappear the next clay or hour. In ajl doubtful oases, either as to the nature of lameness, or as to whether the horso is really lamo or not, tho safer plan is to' examine him again nest day.

Diagnosing Disease. Although certain general lilies may bo given to aid in the detection of the seat and, causo of lameness, yet it is quite, impossible to give, by-any doseription, rules sufficient to guido tho novice in all cases. It was possible to lay broad and general rules, but .not possible to lay down precise and sharp- - ly-defiued rules, becauso varying circumstances induco such .innumerable modifications of symptoms, The following information miglit prove serviceable in aiding diagnosis of diseases causing lameness and suffering:— When a horse is.suffering from liimeness in tho foro limb, lis raises his head and for? part of tl»» body from tho "lame" side, and, allows them to "drop" on tho "sound side." Lameness in both foro limbs causes tho horso to go with a short, "catJike" action. Hind Limb Lameness,—Wliea the animal is in motion tho "lamo" quarter is "elevated," with a corresporrding "decline" on tho 60iincl side. Shoulder Joint, Lameness.—lnability to extend affected limb equally with the other ono. Swelling at point of shoulder. Stubbing of tho tee. Pain shown on forcible outward and forward extension of limb. Sprain- of Tendohs or Ligaments af a Leg.—Decided swelling of tendons or ligaments at back of leg. I'aiu on pressure. • Sovero krtieness in _ acute stages, gradually decreasing a 5 inflammation subsides. Swelling remains after work. Splint.—A plain, distinct bony swell' ing on the inside or outside of the les, between tho knee or tho hock, and tho fetliiek. Lameness in the first stages. Ring.—A round bony enlargement oil the coronot, encircling tho limb in foro or hind loa. Persistant lameaesa.

Side-bone.—Bony enlargement on inside or outside, or both sides of the structnros', just above tho hoof. The disease is an ossification of the normajV flexible cartilago springing from the imoh

Navicular Disease.—Ohscure lameness in ono or both feet, with no external signs of disease. Intermittent lameness, which disappears an "warmiup up." Returns after short rest. Pointing of.feet in the stable. Uneven temperature of feet, i.e., ono foot being warmer than the.other. Lamimtis.—Excessive lameness. Animal difficult to move in acute attack. Stoat disturbance of pulse and breathing, with great pain . on movement. Pain and lameness much less in latter, or chronic stage. Solo of foot descends and causes flat and Sometimes convex surface. Sanderaeb or Quarter Ora-ek —fissure m horn of .foot of varying'extent and depth. , Corns.—More or less lameness, with heat, in foot. Discoloured horn of solo in the angle formed bx the bar and wall of hoof, evident oil paring tho surface of sole. In chronic cases the outer horn over the corn is hard and dry, but in acute cases soft, and if pus has formed it may bo moist. . Qtfittor.—lntense local heat, pain on pressure to coronet, followed by an open sore, from which pus exudes and ex* tends downwards into the structure of tho foot. Hip-joint Lameness.—-Distinct swelling of affected limb in-joint. Pain on manipulation of limb-outwards. Extension .of limb limited.' Catching of toe on ground in the trot. Stifle Joai Lameness.—Swelling, heat and paffi in. joint, Difficulty in estendiftg the limb. Curb.—Swelling of back of hock joint, hard in character, lameness peTceptiblo after severe exertion, Frequent dropping of hind limb in action. . Bone- Spavin,—Hard bony swelling on ir.sido and front of hock joint. Lameness.)? raoro pronounced after a short rest, but will, in early stages, disappear when the horse is "warmed up." Wearing of the toe. Lameness increased if limb is hsld up in a flexed position, for a short time. Grease.—Red inflamed patches in the heel, with discharge more or less offensive. Skin sometimes ulcerated and at other times covered.with proud flesh or fissures. Banker.—Rapid destruction, of the horn of the whole of the sols, leaving ragged edges. Escessive growth of new soft fungus horn, which does not cohere,- Characteristic fatid discharge.