54 



injuries, not only the ligaments, but the tendons and bones are 

 implicated. Great pain is evinced, with high fever. Treatment : — 

 The patient should be supported by slings, and cold water irrigation 

 applied to the joint until the inflammation and pain subside. 

 Hypodermic injections of morphia near the joint have a soothing 

 effect, while the fever must also be combatted. (su par. 38 — 

 " Sympathetic Fever." ) 



163. Open Joint. — All the joints are liable to be laid open from 

 kicks, probes, and other injuries. The joints most frequently damaged 

 in this manner are the knee, elbow, stifle, and hock. The three latter 

 are very formidable to deal with, and, owing to their arrangement, are 

 difficult to treat successfully. When a joint is opened into, it should 

 have immediate attention, or it may end m a stiff joint, or caries of the 

 bone, and even in the death of the animal. As soon as it is ascertained 

 that the discharge coming from the wound is joint oil, entire rest must 

 be given, and cold water irrigation resorted to. The water must be 

 kept running constantly over the part for four or six days. I have, 

 on many occasions, with this treatment alone, been successful in 

 stopping synovia, and healing the joint. Next to this is the application 

 of a good fly-blister, which has generally the desired effect ; it causes 

 the parts to swell, thus closing up the opening in the joint and 

 preventing the admission of atmospheric air. Creasote, oil of cloves, or 

 carbolic acid may also be applied to the wound, if thought necessary. 



164. Stifle Joint. — Independent of the disease of the bones that 

 enter into the formation of this joint {see par'. 114), the soft structures in 

 connection with it are frequently the seat of injury and disease. Some 

 breeds of horses are more susceptible to contract diseases and enlarge- 

 ments of this joint than others. Young animals — more particularly of 

 the cart-horse class — are subject to big or distended joints, known as 

 '■'stifled'' or luxation of the patella, {see Plate IX. No. 30). 



165. Luxation of the Patella, or partial displacement of the cup, 

 in my opinion, is a disease of a hereditary nature. The young 

 animals, which suffer, as a rule, are very poor, and bad thrivers ; and 



