280 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



treatment of disease in this region so extremely difficult, 

 for it must be manifest to everyone that external applica- 

 tions as applied in the treatment of hip-joint troubles can 

 have but little effect upon a structure so deeply placed and 

 so heavily clothed by muscular tissue. Inflammation may 

 occur in this joint, and usually supervenes upon injury of 

 an indirect character, as the localization of rheumatic 

 poison, or by a false step or slip of the foot the liga- 

 mentum teres may be sprained. The ligamentum teres is 

 easily injured, comparatively speaking, as for instance the 

 animal may be travelling at a pretty fast gait and place his 

 foot upon a stone, which rolls, or gives way. The weight 

 of the animal's body, and the force of the foot striking the 

 ground, the speed at which the animal is travelling, etc., all 

 combine to cause a fearful strain. The ligamentum teres is 

 injured, and in all probability a valuable animal is in an 

 instant rendered lame for life. A very slight slip made by 

 an animal while drawing a heavy load may be followed by 

 the same result. Any exercise of a very violent character, 

 as jumping, sudden turns while running, slipping, falling, 

 etc., may all be said to occasionally operate as causes of 

 hip-joint lameness. When inflammation occurs in this joint 

 a series of pathological changes are observed to take place 

 in exactly the same manner as in other joints. First there 

 is redness of the synovial membrane, an exudation is 

 thrown out, and, as the disease progresses, ulceration of the 

 articular cartilage and laminal layer of the bones occurs. 

 The integrity of the joint is lost, and partial anchylosis 

 may occur. In disease arising from the localization of 

 rheumatic poison there is a strong tendenc}^ to the deposi- 

 tion of porcelaineous material. 



Symptoms. — If the inflammation existing in the hip-joint 

 be violent, symptoms correspondingly severe are manifested 

 by the animal, which stands persistently, being very averse 



