76 VETERINARY LECTURES 



147. Elbow-Joint {Plate IX., No. 23) is also subject to injury 

 from kicks and blows, as well as from the shoes being made too 

 long, or with too much caulking, thus damaging the elbow-point 

 when the animal lies down. If the shoe is the cause, it must be at 

 once removed and remedied to prevent further injuries from that 

 source ; a stocking-leg stuffed with horsehair, or special pad, should 

 be placed round the pastern every night. Hot or cold fomentations 

 ought to be applied to the damaged elbow, night and morning, with 

 soothing absorbent lotions (par. 1069, No. 1), but beware of strong, 

 stimulating embrocations. Should the tumour be soft to the touch, 

 and just underneath the skin, it may contain watery fluid (serum), or 

 matter, when it will have to be opened ; if it is hard, or deeply 

 seated, a small piece of 15 per cent, of oleate of mercury, applied 

 every other day, can be tried. 



148. Broken Knee (Plate IX., No. 17) is an injury of greater 

 or less extent done to the front of the knee, and of frequent occur- 

 rence. In some cases it is slight, only abrasion of the skin, in others 

 so extensive that the joint may be permanently damaged ; particu- 

 larly so when it is laid open and the ligaments and tendons 

 injured. The parts to be treated must be properly cleansed from 

 all sand, grit, etc., then a pledget of tow, saturated in the anti- 

 septic mixture (par, 1060, No. 3), should be applied, secured 

 with cold water bandages, which must be kept constantly wet and 

 not removed for three days, unless the leg swells very much. 

 The animal should have its head tied close up to the rack, so 

 that it cannot lie down. Any constitutional disturbance that 

 may arise must be treated as sympathetic fever (par. 38). 

 If the joint be damaged, and joint oil run from the wound, a 

 special tin splint must be placed at the back of the knee to keep 

 it steady. The cold water bandages keep the inflammatory process 

 in check, conducing to healthy action and closing the wound by 

 granulation, which may appear in eight to ten days ; then the 

 cloths must be removed and the wounds left bare, dressing it 

 daily with suitable caustic lotions or a preparation of iodoform 

 (par. 1060, No. 7). A good blister and a run at grass may be 



