O-^ THE ^ 



« UNIVERSITY ] 



\ OF y 



STRAIN OF THE HOCK JOINT. 55 



frequently) from injuries to the aponeurosis and tendons of insertion of 

 the abdrctor muscles of the femur and tibia. 



Causation. Strain of the stifle may follow violent collisions, such as 

 occur in entering or leaving the stable, from falls on rough ground, from 

 direct blows, from slips, etc., or even from the sudden and violent 

 contraction of the muscles of the antero-external surface of the quarter. 



Symptoms. Lameness follows immediately or soon after the accident, 

 and is of a peculiar character ; to avoid using the injured joint, the 

 animal advances the hind limb with a mowing movement. 



The injured region exhibits diffuse inflammatory swelling, which 

 impedes palpation, and makes it difficult to determine the exact nature 

 of the local lesion. The thigh at the stifle is painful. 



Diagnosis and prognosis. Diagnosis presents no considerable diffi- 

 culty. The prognosis must be based on the intensity of the symptoms, 

 and becomes grave if the tendons or aponeurotic insertions be injured, 

 or extensive damage have been done to ligaments. 



Treatment. At first, continued cold applications, douches, and 

 massage are most useful ; blisters are more effective in the grave cases, 

 and comprise not only the ordinary blisters, but the powerful mixed 

 blister containing tartar emetic, powdered hellebore, bichromate of 

 potash, etc. If for any special reason it is of importance to preserve 

 the animal's life, the parts may be fired; but for economic reasons it 

 is usually better to fatten it for the butcher. 



. STRAIN OF THE HOCK JOINT. 



Causation. Strain of the hock joint is commonest in young oxen 

 which are being trained to work. Their hind quarters are necessarily 

 more or less free, and the animals are apt to make side movements to 

 avoid the goad, thus exposing the hock to irregular strain. 



The internal ligaments are more frequently strained than the external, 

 a fact due to the conformation of the hocks. 



Symptoms. Strain is accompanied by lameness, most marked when 

 the animals endeavour to turn, by exaggerated sensibility of the entire 

 hock region, and, in grave cases, by subcutaneous oedema. 



Diagnosis and prognosis. Diagnosis is simple. The prognosis is 

 sometimes grave, because a spavin or a permanent chronic enlargement 

 of the capsule of the true hock joint may form. 



Treatment. It is often desirable at once to apply an extensive 

 blister over the whole hock and to supplement this at a later stage by 

 cold applications, or by continuous cold irrigation for half an hour or 

 more both night and morning. 



In exceptional cases the use of the actual cautery becomes necessary. 



