STIFLE-JOINT LAMENESS !)77 



with a jerking inotiou, and quickly force the horse back upon his 

 heels. It is rarely the peculiar exertion will not bring the patella 

 back into place; when, by walking th(^ horse back and forth a 

 little, he will be found all right. 



Stifle-Joint Lameness. 



Besides dislocation of the patella or knee-cap, from laceration 

 or extension of the lateral ligaments, we frequently find the stifle- 

 joint itself diseased. The condyles may be diseased, or the semi- 

 lunar cartilages may be displaced. Sometimes the tendinous ori- 

 gin of the flexor metatarsimagnus (the piincipal muscle in bend- 

 ing the hock-joint) is torn or strained. This is always a serious 

 lameness, owing to the flexity of the part involved. 



Causes. — The causes are the same as in other joint-slips, blows, 

 wrenches, etc. 



Symptoms. — In moving, the limb is held as straight as possi- 

 ble; it is moved of a piece, as it were, the stifle is turned outward 

 at every step, and the leg is swung around, and placed farther 

 forward than in hip-lameness. In most cases we have heat and 

 swelling. If made to stand on the limb, the capsular swelling 

 can be felt, and pain is evinced on pressure. 



Treatment. — Rest must be given. If the cartilages are dis- 

 placed, they must be replaced by careful manipulation; hot fo- 

 mentations, or continued cold applications, must be applied; and 

 in the latter stages, repeated blisters or setons should be re- 

 sorted to. 



Cuts or Wounds. 



In ordinary cases they are easily managed. Ail that is neces- 

 sary to do is to clip the hair from the edges of the wound, remove 

 any hair or dirt from it by sponging the part with warm water, 

 and dress it with any of the healing preparations or digestives 

 hereafter given, which will cause a secretion of yellow matter, and 

 a healthy granulating process. Each day following, to be cleansed 

 by sponging out with a lather made of castile soap and warm 

 water, and the application of the medicine repeated. 



In a very serious, deep or contused wound, if any large blood 

 vessels are severed, they should be tied up. Arteries will thi-ow 

 the blood out in jets, and veins in a steady stream. If an artery 



63 



