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THE FARM DOCTOR. 



the filling up of the others, and vice versa. There may or may 

 not be much lameness, or impossibility of flexing the knee so 

 as to bring the fetlock pad in contact with the elbow. 



Treat the inflammation as in sprained radial ligament, and 

 the liquid distension by blister, by bandage and pads shaped 

 like half of an egg cut longitudinally, or still better, by evacu- 

 ating the liquid with the nozzle of a hypodermic syringe, and 

 then applying pressure with wet bandages. 



SYNOVIAL SWELLINGS IN FRONT OF THE KNEE. 



These are of three kinds : \st, the distension of a bursa or 

 formation of a serous cyst under the skin, exceedingly common 

 in heavy cattle; 2d, distension of the theca of one or more 

 of the four tendons which pass over the front and outer side of 

 the knee; 3^, and finally, disease inside the knee-joint and 

 distension of its capsule. The first is superficial, though often 

 possessed of very thick walls, is generally diffused over the 

 front of the joint, and is little affected by flexion or extension. 

 The distended thecge extend vertically along the lines of the 

 tendons, reaching above and below the joint, and are bound 

 down at intervals by transverse bands ; their size is little 

 affected by bending the joint. Distensions of the joint capsule 

 appear in the intervals between the tendons, do not extend 

 beyond the joint except in very extreme cases, and disappeai 

 in part or entirely when the joint is bent ; in this case the joint 

 is rarely kept fully extended in standing, and cannot usually be 

 flexed to make the fetlock touch the elbow. 



Treatment. — For subcutaneous cysts puncture with nozzle of 

 hypodermic syringe, draw off the liquid, and compress strongly 

 with wet bandages. If this cannot be done, pass a tape from 

 above downward through the cavity of the sac, and keep in 

 until resulting suppuration has ceased, when it may be with- 

 drawn from above downward a little at a time. Excess of 



