THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 237 



be injured. Mr. Percivall has remarked that "the advances 

 made in veterinary science have satisfactorily shown that the 

 farriers' opinion was for the most part founded in error ; the 

 halting action, which they considered as denoting hip lameness, 

 more critical observation, combined with post mortem results, has 

 demonstrated to have its origin in disease of the hock, for the 

 most part : indeed in spavin this disease is a fruitful source of 

 lameness behind, frequently insidious in its rise and progress, 

 sometimes difficult of detection, occasionally incapable of demon- 

 stration ; no wonder, therefore, that it- should so often lead the 

 unwary and inexperienced into error." Sympathetic lameness 

 of the femoral region, however, is not uncommon ; for we find 

 that long-continued pain in the foot will produce, through the 

 sympathetic relations existing between remote parts, tenderness, 

 heat, and sometimes corded glands in the groin. We shall not 

 contend that lameness never occurs in this joint, but that it is 

 rare ; for we know that, like other joints, it is sometimes the seat 

 o? synovial inflammation, ulceration, and suppuration. 



The diagnostic symptom of hip joint lameness is a halting, or 

 kind of hopping gait, and difficulty in turning. , 



Treatment. — Rest, refrigerating lotions, and light diet are in- 

 dicated in the inflammatory stage ; and stimulating liniments in 

 the chronic form. See Liniments. 



LAMENESS OF THE STIFLE JOINT. 



The bones composing the stifle-joint consist of the patella, 

 lower part of the femur, and upper part of the tibia ; they are 

 retained in position by capsular and connecting ligaments, and 

 are liable to sprain and injury. The diagnostic symptoms of 

 sprain are heat and tenderness, and the limb is advanced with 

 difficulty : rest, fomentations with infusion of poppy heads, cold 

 water, and sometimes physic will be the most proper means of 

 cure. For chronic stifle lameness, originating in adhesions, or 

 infiltrations of the surrounding tissues, a few applications of 

 the acetate of cantharides will probably effect a cure. 



Horses frequently injure the parts around the stifle joint by 

 leaping fences and stone walls : the treatment is the same as for 



