^382 — 



as a drink, to soothe the parts. Give no saltpetre or other medi- 

 cines. 



In old horses, as in old men, considerable chronic disease of the 

 kidneys exists. Although little can be accomplished in the way 

 of cure by medicines, a great deal can be done to soothe the parts, 

 by soft and soothing feed and drink, such as steamed or boiled 

 feed and flaxseed tea, cut grass and other green feed, with plenty 

 of cold water, at all times to drink. The more fluids that go into 

 the body, the less irritation of the bladder and kidneys. (See 

 Bladder Diseases.) 



Knees Broken. — (See Broken knees.) 



Knee Joints, Loose Cartilages in the. — Small loose cartilage 

 is sometimes found floating in the knee-joint of horses, as well as 

 of man, and is the cause of much of the obscure lameness that is 

 so often unaccounted for, and, so far as I am aware, has never 

 been noticed by other writers. The lameness is very sudden, and 

 passes off as if nothing had happened, constantly coming and 

 going. 



Treatment Remove the body from the joint by first getting it 

 into a corner and holding it there, and cutting and taking it out ; 

 this is too dangerous an operation for every person to undertake, 

 as it is cutting into a synovial cavity. 



Knuckling. This is a peculiar loose double action of the 

 pastern of the liind legs, and is a symptom rather than a disease 

 of itself. 



Cause. Disease of the hock-joint, and weakness in the part 

 from the effects of sprains, or other injury. It also accompanies 

 occult and bone spavin. 



Observe. Knuckling of the hind pasterns is a symptom strongly 

 indicative that the animal has had an attack of paralj^sis or is 

 likely to have one ; at all events it clearly shows that either the 

 brain or spinal cord is to a certain extent diseased, resulting An 

 loss of motive power in the pasterns. 



Treatment. Feed the horse well, and give fifteen drops of the 

 tincture of nux vomica three times in the day. If the hock-joint 

 be the c^use, treat the hocks as for spavin, or palliate the symp- 

 toms by applying two parts of olive oil, and one part of creosote 

 ^nd oil of turpentine, two to three times in the week. 



