438 CLINICAL VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



Three weeks before entering hospital an abscess had been opened 

 at the upper part of the knee, between the posterior and external 

 surfaces ; after-treatment had consisted in lotions and antiseptic 

 injections. As the condition became aggravated the horse was sent to 

 Alfort. 



State on Examination. — No weight was placed on the near fore-liinb. 

 When walking the knee was not flexed, and the toe was dragged along 

 the ground. The knee showed great swelling, extending about four 

 inches in an upward direction, and downwards as far as the centre of 

 the canon-bone. The upper part of the external surface exhibited a 

 sinuous wound ; on the internal surface of the limb the upper cul-de- 

 sac of the carpal sheath was tense and fluctuating. Pressure at this 

 point and over the lower portion of the sheath produced a considerable 

 discharge of purulent synovia. 



The horse lay down on the right side almost as soon as it entered 

 its box, and groaned frequently. Temperature 39"o° C. It was placed 

 in slings. The wound was disinfected, and the tendon sheath irrigated 

 with one per thousand sublimate solution. This treatment was con- 

 tinued for three days. 



On the igth the horse was cast on the right side. Over the lower 

 cul-de-sac of the carpal sheath a counter-opening was made on the 

 external surface of the limb, and a fragment of gauze introduced to 

 serve as a drainage-tube. The upper cul-de-sac on the inner surface of 

 the limb was punctured at its most prominent part ; some purulent 

 synovia escaped. The sheath was irrigated with warm sublimate 

 solution. Considerable haemorrhage followed, and was arrested by 

 plugging. The horse was replaced in slings, and the knee irrigated 

 with a small current of water. The evening temperature was 39*2'^ C. 



Next day the tampon was removed, and a second drain inserted. 

 The general condition was good, and there was little fever. 



From the 22nd December to the loth January the temperature 

 varied between 38*5° and 39*3° C. Every three or four days the gauze 

 drain was renewed. 



On the nth irrigation was stopped. The animal still knuckled 

 over a little at the fetlock, but weight was freely placed on the limb. 

 The second drainage-tube was removed. 



During the following days the sheath was irrigated with one per 

 thousand sublimate solution. Swelling gradually diminished, pus 

 became less abundant, and the temperature fell to 38*0° C, where it 

 remained. 



On the 30th the size of the first drain was diminished. 



On the loth February drainage was altogether suspended, but anti- 

 septic injections were continued for some days longer. 



The animal left hospital on the i6th February. It was not lame at 

 a walk, but still showed tenderness at a trot. This, however, disappeared 

 soon after return to work. 



"LUXATION" OF THE PATELLA. 



146. A six-year-old bay cob mare, seen in January, 1895. 



History. — The animal had worked on the previous day, and returned 



