CAPPED KNEE. 327 



horses fall down and bruise without breaking their knees, extrava- 

 sation of blood is apt to follow the accident, and this usually be- 

 comes dispersed without being followed by serous abscess. A less 

 violent injury will produce capped knee; it may even arise without 

 any injury at all : like serous abscesses in general, however, when 

 once it has arisen it is by no means disposed to subside ; but, on 

 the contrary, very often proves extremely obstinate, and now and 

 then under treatment gives rise to solid in exchange for fluid depo- 

 sition, inducing consolidation of cellular tissues, and thickening 

 of the skin covering them, perhaps, as well. It may happen, how- 

 ever, that the case may take a totally different turn. Instead of 

 proceeding to terminate in resolution, or in permanent consolidation 

 and thickening of parts, fluid may remain eff'used in such quantity, 

 and for so long a time, as may, in the end, compel the person in 

 attendance to open the abscess to save its bursting. Perhaps 

 serous fluid or sero-purulent mixture may be let out at first, but 

 afterwards pus becomes secreted, and true abscess presents itself. 

 Or, from the swelling forcing itself against the bursa underneath 

 it, the latter may break, and synovial fluid be discharged. This 

 renders the case protracted, but not dangerous. All will ultimately 

 do well, though, after the healing of the abscess, thickening causing 

 blemish will, for some considerable time, probably remain. 



Capped Knee is occasioned by a Blow of some Kind. 

 Either the horse strikes his knee against the manger or against 

 the log swinging at the end of his halter. Some horses, from a 

 habit of pawing in the stable — one they commonly acquire from 

 impatience manifested at the time of feeding — are very apt to inflict 

 upon themselves such injuries, and, in consequence, to become dis- 

 figured, blemished perhaps, for some considerable time, to the no 

 small annoyance, in the case of their being choice or valuable, of 

 their proprietors. Horses at strawyard are frequently in their 

 gambols striking their knees against posts or rails, or any thing 

 that may happen to stand in their way ; and since such accidents 

 are little heeded at the time, but left to work their own reduction, 

 every now and then it turns out that in one of them the fluid collects 

 to that extent that no mode of cure remains save that of opening 



