io8 THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



becomes filled up. The animal lies down and is disinclined to rise. 



When it does rise, the joints of the affected limb are held in the 



condition of flexion, and there is a discharge of synovia, which may be 



purulent, from the wound. 



When the discharge is purulent and the whole joint considered to 

 be affected, slaughter is usually recommended, since treatment is 

 generally regarded as hopeless. But from what has been said it will 

 readily be gathered that the precaution should be adopted of render- 

 ing all recent wounds in the neighbourhood of the joint aseptic, and 

 closing them as quickly as possible. 



STIFLE JOINT DISEASE— GONITIS 



This is the name given to inflammation of the stifle joint which is 

 chronic. It is usually met with in heavy draught horses, but it is not 

 by any means uncommon in the lighter breeds. One or both stifles may 

 be affected. 



The disease is very insidious in its onset, and at first the patient is 

 but very slightly lame. In the stable when only one limb is affected the 

 animal stands with the stifle, hock, and fetlock flexed, and the foot resting 

 on the toe. 



Another characteristic attitude is to find the animal with the joints 

 named markedly flexed and the foot raised some three or four inches 

 from the ground. Where both stifles are affected the joints are eased 

 in this manner alternately. 



There is always an endeavour on the part of the animal to avoid 

 extension of the stifle, so that we find during progression the steps are 

 very much shortened, and the foot is but slightly raised from the ground. 

 The toe is thus very apt to be caught in any slight elevations. 



In the other, or femoro-patellar disease, the stifle is always held 

 extended. 



