COMrLAIA'TS AND LXJURlES OF THE KNEE. 113 



greatly upon the treatment ot the wound in its early stages 

 Caustic applications should invariably be avoided, as they 

 always leave behind them a greater blemish. But should 

 the mark left be of some extent, even without using caustic 

 remedies, then the best way to render it less visible is 

 to apply a mild blister to the part, which will stimulate the 

 hair to shoot out more abundantly round the scar. We do 

 not think there is much faith to be placed in the application 

 of ointments, except they may be stimulating, in conse- 

 quence of being generally composed of turpentine or Spanish 

 flies. 



It is seldom a knee that has once been broken, is so 

 healed as not to be perceptible, although in some cases the 

 hurt has been so slight that it can hardly be detected. 

 But even in the least visible of these the hair is always 

 slightly curled, and where this is noticed, the leg should 

 be taken up and the knee bent, when the scar, however 

 slight, will be at once perceived. But we would not have 

 it supposed that a broken knee is invariably an indication 

 of a stumblincr animal, because the best of horses have come 

 down, by being backed by a bad rider, or placing his foot 

 on a rolling stone on a road when going at a quick 

 trot', or other cause. However, a broken knee once detected 

 will put the purchaser upon his guard to watch minutely 

 the action and paces of the horse, as well as the form of 

 his fore-quarters ; because, if his shoulder is thick and 

 upright, and the legs placed far under him, then he is likely 

 to have a bad action, and be apt not to lift his feet high 

 enough to clear the ground properly. On the other hand. 

 I knew one of the finest hunters that ever took the field, 

 with his knees broken, from his rider having forced him 

 to a leap which it was impossible he could accomplish. If 

 the shoulder is oblique and the withers high, with a strong, 



