DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 85 



tern. An attendant standing in front pulls the limb 

 forward while the operator grasps the patella and 

 pushes it inward and downward, using as much force 

 as is necessary to accomplish the reduction, as seen in 



Fig, 30. Method of reducing dislocation of stifle. 



figure 30. It is well to bear in mind that bringing the 

 limb forward relaxes the muscles that are attached to 

 the upper part of the bone, and the operator will not 

 have as much force to overcome as he would if the 

 muscles were kept tense by the limb being held back. 

 Having reduced the dislocation, the animal can walk as 

 well as ever ; if lame it will be only in a slight degree; 

 but remember that the ligaments are now stretched, 

 and that the bone will easily slip out of place again. 

 Steps should be taken to retain the bone in place and 

 cause a shortening of the ligaments. This can be ef- 

 fected by placing the horse in a single stall ; tie him 

 short enough to prevent his lying down ; place a col- 

 lar on the neck and attach a rope about 10 to 12 feet 



