342 



CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



Give one night and morning in tlie feed. 

 is nearlv well. 



Continue this till the wound 



IV. Broken Knees. 



Broken knee is a term used to designat<^ contusion, abrasion and 

 laceration of the soft parts — skin, ligaments and membranes — over the 

 knee joints, but not the bones. Tt is quite common, especially where 

 horse-back riding is fashionable, and fox hunting and steeple chasing 

 are ]>racticed. Sometimes the knees are only bruised or the skin broken, 

 and then it is very si)nple and recovery is quick. But they are often 

 broken right through into the joints, opening them completely and allow- 

 ing a raj)id flow of synovia. Sometimes they are ea.sily cured, and at 

 other times defy all treatment, and the joints become ruined and stiffened; 

 and sometimes large spavins grow upon them. They sometimes prove 



BROKEN KNEE. 



Manner of probing the 

 dirt sac of a broken 

 knee. 



COCKED ANKLE. 



Ilesult of corns anc 



similar diseases. 



BROKEN KNEE. 



Manner of opening the dirt sac of a 

 broken knee when it is found 

 necessary lo do so. 



fatal by the excessive amount of irritative fever produced; the horse 

 becomes very much emaciated, tucked up in the flanks, runs at the eyes, 

 and weakness is great. Whenever the joints are opened, you have a very 

 serious case at the best, and one that will tax the patience and judgment 

 of the attendant. 



Causes. — Knees are always broken by falling on them. The causes 

 of falling may differ. Work horses drop upon their knees sometimes 

 when starting very heavy loads, and if on stony or gravelly roads, are 

 very apt to break their knees. Driving horses stumble and fall on their 

 knees when they are sore in the feet, stiff in the legs or lame in the 

 shoulders, and often open the joints. Saddle horses are the most liable to 

 broken knees ; if ridden slowly, on smooth roads, the weight on the back 

 makes them more liable to stumble; if ridden across country they often 

 come upon their knees on the other side of a fence or ditch. 



