354 IJUKEAU OF ANIMAL INDU3TKY. 



from external violence, as l>lows or l)ruises, and maj' appear in the 

 form of small, soft tumors, painless and not intiammator}- in character, 

 but, by a repetition of the cause or renewal of violence, likely to 

 acquire increased severity. Severe intlammation, with suppuration, 

 may follow, which, iilling up the cavity, the walls will become thick- 

 ened and hard, resulting- in the formation of a tumor. 



The elbow, the knee, and the hock aie the parts of the body where 

 these lesions are ordinarily found, and on account of their peculiar 

 shape and the position they occupy they have received the denomina- 

 tion of '^ capped.^'' They will be considered in their peculiar aspect. 



CAPPED ELUOW. 



Capped elbow, or "shoe lx)il," is a term applied to an enlargement 

 often found at the point of the elbow. 



Cause, — This lesion is due to injury or pressure of the part while it 

 is resting on the ground. The horse, unlike the cow, does not rest 

 directly on the under surface of the sternum or breastbone on account 

 of its sharp ridge-like formation. He rests more on the side of the 

 breastbone and chest and consequently the leg which is flexed under 

 the body is subject to considerable pressure. If the leg is flexed 

 under the body so that the hoof or shoe is directly in contact with the 

 elbow, which may occur in horses having an extremely long cannon 

 bone or excessive length in the shoes, the greater part of the weight 

 of the chest is concentrated at this point and the pressure may cause a 

 bruise or an inflammation. 



Symptoms. — Under these conditions the point of the elbow ma}' 

 become swollen and tender and exhibit heat and pain. This swelling 

 may not only cover the point of the elbow, but sometimes reaches the 

 axilla and assumes such proportions that there is great difficulty in 

 using the leg, the animal showing signs of lameness even to the extent 

 of the circumflex step, as in shoulder lameness. This edematous 

 condition, however, does not remain stationary. It may b}^ degrees 

 subside or perhaps disappear. In the first instance it will become 

 more distincth' defined, with better marked boundaries, until it is 

 reduced to a soft, round, fluctuating tumor, with or without heat or 

 pain. There is then either a bloody or serous tumor or a purulent 

 collection, and following the puncture of its walls with the knife there 

 will be an escape of blood, of serum, or of pus, as the case ma}' be, in 

 variable quantities. In either case, but principally in that of the 

 C3'stic form, the tumor will be found to be subdivided b}' septa, or 

 bands running in various directions. 



Various changes will follow the opening of the tumor and the 

 esca.pe of its contents. In a majority of cases the process of cica- 

 trization will take place, and the cavit}' fill up by granulation, the 

 discharge, at first a))uiidant, graduall}^ diminishing and the wound 



