262 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



affair, and liable to produce partial or complete anchylosis 

 of the knee-joint, and render the patient comparatively 

 useless. 



Symptoms. — AVhen the animal is made to walk, there may- 

 be observed more or less difficulty in extending the limb, and 

 occasionally it is brought forward in a curve, or with a rotary 

 motion, somewhat similar to the action of shoulder lame- 

 ness, for which carpitis is often mistaken ; but the limb is 

 not lifted so high as in shoulder lameness. He does not 

 flex the knee, and may stand on the affected limb pretty 

 firmly, and during progression, on close observation, it may 

 be seen that he steps slightly further with the lame than 

 with the sound limb. In a great many cases swelling and 

 heat may be detected, but in some cases these symptoms 

 are absent. In such a case the lameness is very difficult to 

 diagnose. The lameness is very similar to that of splint, 

 but is usually more severe, and during progression, particu- 

 larly if trotting, the animal drops excessively. After rest, 

 if a horse has some little irritation of the knee, when 

 brought out of the stable he is not lame, but soon becomes 

 lame on being exercised. If lame in both knees, the animal 

 has a faltering action, what some people call ' chest-founder.' 

 On tapping the knee gently, pain is caused, on flexing it 

 he flinches very much, and on being made to trot imme- 

 diately afterward, it may usually be observed that the 

 lameness is increased. 



Treatment. — Complete rest is highly essential in the treat- 

 ment of this, as of other joint diseases. Keep the patient 

 standing quiet, and allay the irritation by the ordinary 

 means, as fomentations, cold applications, anodyne lotions, 

 etc. ; and in some cases, where the irritation is not too 

 great, a starch bandage, properly applied to the knee, will 

 be of great benefit. After the irritation is allayed, counter- 

 irritants should be applied — counter-irritation being of the 



