SPRAIN OF THE STIFLE-JOINT. 129 



SO that all we can ao is to allow Nature to work her own 

 cure. A large and strong adhesive plaster may be laid 

 across the haunch, which will, in some measure, assist in 

 keeping together and supporting the parts. It seldom, how- 

 ever, happens that the parts again adhere in their natural 

 position, consequently deformity and lameness are entailed 

 upon the animal for life. 



SPRAIN OF THE ROUND BONE. 



Symptoms. — The rounded termination of the femur or 

 thigh-bone is in common language termed the round-bone. 

 In a few isolated cases this part has been dislocated, and the 

 rounded part v/hich fits into the cavity of the hip-joint is 

 fractured ; but sprain of this part is more commonly the 

 case. The indication of this is, that the horse drags his 

 leg after him, with the toe only touching the ground as he 

 walks. If the bone itself has been injured, heat and ten- 

 derness of the part will generally be manifested. 



Remedies. — It seldom happens that strains of this joint 

 are immediately relieved ; and from the want of proper 

 action the muscles of the limb waste away. A blister is 

 the most likely thing to be of use, and the horse should -not 

 be subjected to any kind of work. Firing has sometimes 

 relieved the complaint. Should this fail, the only thing 

 that remains to be done is to put a charge over the joint, 

 and turn the animal out to grass for some months. 



SPRAIN OF THE STIFLE-JOINT. 



It is but seldom that this joint is sprained. When it 

 does happen, heat and tenderness of the part will give an 

 indication of it. Sometimes dislocation of the patella, or 

 small bone, answering to the knee-pan in man, occurs. 



s 



