9 March, 1908.] Diseases of Farm A.nimals. 159 



pain is very severe this bathing should be continued two or thiee times 

 a uay. If the wound is at all deep, it should be anointed with carbolic 

 oil (strength, i in 20), and afterwards a strip of lint soaked in the oil 

 should be applied and kept in position by a lightly-applied bandage. 



For success in treating the graver conditions it is a necessity to restrict 

 the movement of the knee as much as possible. To this end it is a good 

 plan to bandage a wooden or leather splint on to the back of the leg, 

 extending from half way down the arm to half way down the cannon 

 bone (see page 266). Stitches are, as a rule, not of much value, and when 

 had recourse to, if the splints are not used, are torn out on the least 

 movement of the joint. Occasionally a little proud flesh may appear, 

 and should be removed by two or three gentle applications of lunar 

 caustic. Dry^ wound dressing should be applied with a pledget of tow 

 ■or cotton wool and bandaged in position. In cases of " open joint " 

 (see page 157) it is advisable to first of all irrigate with a i in 500 

 solution of corrosive sublimate and afterwards block up the wound with 

 pure iodoform pressed and kept in position with cotton wool and bandages. 

 All irritant applications should be avoided, at least until the wound has 

 thoroughly healed and the inflammation subsided, when the application 

 of a mild blister will assist in removing any swelling which remains, and 

 will also promote the growth of hair. 



Occasionallv the injurv is so severe as to give rise to more or less 

 fever, which will have to be controlled by the giving of mild laxative 

 and febrifuge medicine (three to four ounces of salts daily), together 

 with about a teaspoonful of saltpetre. This medicine can be given in 

 the feed, which should always for a few days at the first be in the form of 

 sloppy bran mashes, green stuff, or other soft food. 



Broken knees very commonly leave, after healing, some evidence of 

 their previous existence, which may or may not constitute unsoundness. 

 Be the blemish ever so small, however, it should be looked upon with 

 suspicion, as indicative in many cases of a tendency to stumble. 



Speedy Cut. 



By "speedy cut" is meant a wound or bruise on the inside of the 

 fore limb near the knee caused by the hitting of the part with the foot 

 of the opposite limb. " Buck-kneed " horses or those which stand " in 

 at the knees " are particularly liable to this injur)-, the inner prominence 

 of the knee of such horses being brought into the line of action of the 

 opposite foot during progression, especially if the horse has high knee action 

 at the trot. jn. speedy cutting horse is always dangerous to ride or drive 

 on account of his liability to stumble and fail, and moreover he is either 

 intermittently lame or liable to become lame at any moment (see page 

 260). Sometimes in young horses speedy cutting is a sign of muscular 

 weakness and tendency to it passes away on the acquirement of firm 

 condition. 



Symptoms. — ^The injury may be either a wound or bruise. In the 

 latter case there is local heat pain and swelling and in severe cases an 

 abscess mav form. Sudden lameness occurs on the infliction of the 

 blow. 



Treatment. — When wounded. Friar's balsam (compound tincture of 

 benzoin) is a good application. For a bruise in the early stages cooling 

 applications are best and one or other of the following lotions may be 

 used : — 



White Lotion. — Sulphate of zinc and sugar of lead (subacetate) of 

 each one ounce ; water one auart. 



