The noninfectious inflammation of bursae and thecae usually result from contusions or strains and generally run their course without becoming infective in character, where vitality and resistance of the subject are normal.

In a general way, inflammation and other affections of bursae and thecae are considered very similar to like affections of joints.

AFFECTIONS OF MUSCLES AND TENDONS.

Muscles and tendons having to do with locomotion are more frequently injured than are any of the other structures whose function is to propel the body or sustain weight.  This is due in part to the exposed position of muscles and tendons.  They serve as a protection to the underlying structures and in this manner receive many blows the force and violence of which are spent before injury extends beyond these tissues.

Muscles of the breast, shoulder and rump are most frequently the recipient of injuries of various kinds.  The abductors of the thigh are subjected to bruising when horses are thrown astride of wagon poles or similar objects.  Thus in one way or another muscle injuries are occasioned and cause lameness.

Traumatic affection of muscles of locomotion may be surface or subsurface—­subsurface with little injury done the skin and fascia, but with subsurface extravasation of blood and masceration of tissue.  Puncture wounds wherein the vulnerant body is of small diameter, are observed, and they occasion deep seated infectious inflammation of the parts affected, with surface wounds that are often unnoticeable.  Such injuries—­puncture wounds—­are always serious, and because of the fact that, there exists little evidence of injury at the time of their infliction, treatment is usually deferred several days and often infection has become quite extensive when the practitioner is consulted.

Where infective wounds of muscles of locomotion occur, the course and gravity of the affection are directly influenced by the proximity of the injury to lymph plexuses.  For instance, injuries causing an infectious inflammatory involvement of the adductors of the thigh may result in a generalization of the infection by way of the inguinal lymph glands.

Large open wounds that extend deep into muscles, render inactive such structures, and even where division is not complete, the pain occasioned causes the subject to favor the part in every way possible.  Contraction of muscular fibers of such parts increases pain and because of this fact groups of muscles are at times disabled because of injury done to one muscle.  Instances of this kind are frequently seen where shoulder injuries, which affect but one muscle, exist; yet because of such injury a marked swinging-leg lameness is present.

Tendons, because of their inelasticity, are subjected to injuries peculiar to themselves.  In addition to being affected as are muscles, wounds of many kinds are found to affect tendons—­contusions, interference wounds, penetrant wounds, incised wounds and lacerations.