INJURIES TO THE KNEE IN THE HORSE. 



805 



extensor tendons, or even one of the three main divisions of the 

 joint. Although the knee-joint is included in the category of 

 " indolent " joints, i.e., such as only slightly resent mechanical 

 injury, yet severe symptoms may follow such accidents. Pain is 

 sometimes so excessive that weight can only be borne by the limb 

 intermittently, or not at all. The swelling extends over the whole 

 joint, and often far beyond it, synovia or pus runs from the wound, 

 and the patient is more or less fevered. 

 A probe can often be introduced into one or 

 other of the joints, and in the later stages 

 it may be possible to see or feel the articular 

 surfaces, which are rough and eroded. 

 Sometimes crepitation can be detected in 

 bending the joint. 



Course. Provided the tendon sheaths 

 are intact, the effects of bruises disappear 

 in from two to three weeks, though they often 

 leave local thickening. Otherwise, and 

 especially if the parts cannot be kept 

 aseptic, recovery may extend over four to 

 six weeks or longer, or the wound may not 

 close. Open arthritis of the knee may heal, 

 but generally the process is accompanied 

 by fever and loss of condition, and followed 

 by anchylosis and obstinate lameness, and 

 in consequence the animal is either de- 

 stroyed or dies from exhaustion. 



The prognosis therefore depends chiefly 



on the extent of the injury. If the parts 



can be kept aseptic, which is seldom the case, _ 



1 r Fig. 465.— Hygroma of the 



there is, of course, a much greater chance knee resulting from bruising. 



of recovery, and blemishing is minimised. 



Treatment. Provided the injury is confined to the skin, it is 



sufficient to cleanse the abraded parts and smear them with vaseline 



or zinc ointment. " Capped knee, 1 ' when recent and of small 



dimensions, often yields to warm fomentations or repeated friction 



with mild stimulants like turpentine and ammonia liniment or 



camphorated alcohol, but when large is best treated by slinging 



the horse, and opening the swelling at its lowest point, clearing 



out fibrinous clots, &c, inserting a drain, and injecting twice daily 



diluted tincture of iodine. Gentle compression with a rubber bandage 



assists recovery. Needle firing followed by blistering has also proved 



