Severe Avounds of the knee are best treated on the same plan as 

 extensive wounds in other parts. Inflammation is certain to occur, 

 and therefore frequent fomentation with warm water and water 

 dressing will be necessary ; a dose of physic, with low diet for the 

 first week, will also materially assist the cure. The wound can only 

 be healed in the ordinary way by granulation ; and to facilitate this 

 process every care should be taken to avoid unnecessary irritation to 

 the parts, and all means should be used to preserve the animal's 

 health. 



Under the most favourable circumstances severe cases of broken 

 knees will require long-continued treatment — not less in duration, 

 certainly, than six weeks or two months ; and as for the gi-eater 

 portion of this period the horse will be compelled to stand, some 

 kind of support will be necessary. Slings are, on many accounts, 

 objectionable ; but the exercise of a little ingenuity will enable a 

 carpenter to fit up something in a stall or box to prop the animal up 

 without subjecting him to much restraint. It is also important 

 during the treatment to prevent the motion of the joint, and for this 

 purpose a piece of gutta percha, or a portion of an old trace, may be 

 attached in the manner of a splint to the back of the leg, and 

 retained by a bandage above and below, leaving the middle part, 

 where the wound is, free, so that any dressings applied to it shall 

 not interfere with the fastenings of the splint, which should not 

 be disturbed for a considerable time. After the healing is nearly 

 completed, a tight bandage may be used to get rid of any excess of 

 granulation, or caustic may be applied to the edges of the wound for 

 the same purpose, and the enlargement of the joint, which will 

 remain after the cicatrisation is perfect, may be reduced by the use 

 of the biniodide of mercury ointment as previously suggested. 



The above is, in our opinion, the most sensible way of treating 

 broken knees. We subjoin, however, several receipts said to be 

 efficacious by the persons who have used them. 



Carefully wash the wounds clean from all dirt and grit, and well 

 bathe them with wann water and plenty of soft soap, working a fine 

 lather round and round, and over and over the wounded parts with 

 the hand, but as gently as possible; taking the greatest care to 

 work the hair downwards and not upwards, and always finishing by 

 drawing the lather to the centre, and leaving a good heap of it over 

 the wound. This should be done several times a day for the first 

 few days, reducing it to three or fom- times a day, and then twice a 

 day ; and in a fortnight or so a scab will have formed over the 

 parts (which must by no means be removed till it comes off of itself), 



