114 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



falling upon the elbov, or from constitutional causes, and is an annoying 

 source of lameness. It is hard to find the exact seat of the disease. In 

 other causes there is sprain of the ligaments, or some of the lateral liga- 

 ments may become completely ruptured. The caput muscles, especially 

 the magnum, tend to bring up the leg, and are liable to injury. The 

 symptoms vary according to the activity of the case, and is sometimes 

 diflficult to detect. We make up our mind from both negative and 

 positive symptoms— by negative, when there is no disease in any other 

 part of the limb. If there is rupture of the lateral ligaments, or frac- 

 ture, the animal points the limb and knuckles at the fetlock. The elbow 

 comes down to a certain extent, if walked. Sometimes, by placing the 

 limb pretty straight, he can bear weight upon it pretty well. If it is the 

 result of a sprain, there is more or less swelling and heat ; but sometimes 

 you do not have these symptoms. Some say there is a tendency to place 

 the foot as in laminitis, but I have hot seen this ; but in backing there is 

 difficulty in bringing back the limb. Wasting of the muscles in the 

 region of the joint will assist you in determining it. 



Treatment. — Give rest ; allay the irritation ; use hot or cold to the 

 parts ; blister — seatons are perhaps preferable to a blister, one inside and 

 one outside — and stimulate them with cantharides, or anything of that 

 kind. If it is a severe injury to the caput muscles, then place in slings. 



Capped Elbow. — The most common injury in this region is a little 

 enlargement appearing on the point of the elbow, caused by the action of 

 the shoe when the animal lies down, causing irritation and the formation 

 of serum or an abscess. A heavy belly band may produce it, or it may 

 be due to the manner in which the animal lies down, even producing it 

 without shoes, and it is necessary to wear a boot on such, although shod 

 with very short shoes. It is easily detected ; there is first irritation, and 

 then a slight exudation ; sometimes just an ordinary exudation, and 

 sometimes it is of a serious character. Eemove the cause — remove the 

 shoe — apply fomentations and stimulate with any mild liniment, such as 

 the camphorated, and in from three to six days it will disappear, if 

 attended to in time. A moderate dose of physic is of benefit. If the 

 cause is kept up and serum accumulates, it is best to open it carefully at 

 the most dependent part, then foment and stimulate ; or insert a small 

 piece of tape with the digestive ointment, carbolic acid, etc., to prevent 

 the wound from healing, or you may insert a seaton through it for the 

 same purpose. This exudation may become of a fibrous character, and 

 also fibrous pus is secreted, and it makes an ugly sore. The remedy is to 

 dissect it carefully out In some cases, where the exudation is becoming 

 organized, you might arrest it by using iodine ointment, or biniodide of 

 mercury, but if once organized then remove it. There may be consider- 

 able hemorrhage in cutting these out, but it can generally be controlled, 

 after which bring the divided edges together. It will take some time for 

 it to heal up, owing to the motion in the parts. When you think an in- 

 flammatory action can be set up and cause the absoption of this exuda- 

 tion, try counter irritation. The elbow may be injured by slipping and 

 cutting the point of the elbow, especially in winter. In such cases when 

 the animal stands up you will see that the cut or incision is below the 

 elbow ; these set up great irritation. Treat with cold or hot water, 

 lotions, etc. If the animal is driven for some distance air passes and 

 extends right round the joint, and perhaps up the shoulder, giving rise to 

 great swelling, which is not the result of inflammation ; bring the hand 

 over the part and you will find that it contains air— there will be a crack- 

 ling noise. Foment and use slight pressure. It might be advisable to 

 make incisions in the parts, but this is the exception. I saw this occur 



