[LAMENESS IN THE HIND LEG 217 



erably patellar desmotomy should l)e performed that relief may 

 be obtained at once. 



' Luxations attending some cases of influenza recover promptly 

 when subjects are kept comfortably confined in roomy box-stalls. 

 The administration of stimulative medicaments such as nux vom- 

 ica and the application of an active blistering agent to the 

 patella serve to hasten recovery. Dislocations in such cases are 

 often bilaterar and they are usually momentary. Reduction 

 occurs spontaneously, as a rule, and the subjects are not occa- 

 sioned much distress if they are kept quiet for a few days. 



Chronic Gonitis. 



Etiolog"y and Occurrence. — Chronic infiammation of tlie 

 stifle joint is met with following acute synovitis due to strains 

 and concussion. It is an ailment which affects heavy horses and 

 particularly animals that are kept at work on paved streets, but 

 this does not explain its existence in animals that are not sub- 

 jected to work likely to cause concussion. Berns^ considers rheu- 

 matism a probable cause of gonitis and, as he states, the dropsical 

 form of affection of this joint is not ordinarily attended with 

 manifestations of inconvenience to the subject. Gonitis is often 

 bilateral and its onset is insidious in many instances. 



Symptomatology. — In unilateral gonitis weight is not borne 

 I)y the affected member. There is noticeable distension of the 

 joint capsule — a characteristic pendant pouching protrusion. 

 When both stifles are affected the subject frequently shifts the 

 weight from one limb to the other. Lameness comes on gradu- 

 ally and during the incipient stages may be intermittent but it 

 progressively increases so that in time affected animals become 

 useless. In bilateral affections animals drag the toes because 

 of the pain incident to flexing the stifles. This is particularly 

 evident when the subject is made to trot. iVs the disease pro- 

 gresses, atrophy of the quadriceps femoris muscles becomes pro- 

 nounced and as destructive changes involving the articular car- 

 tilages take place. The su])ject becomes more lame and eventu- 

 ally is rendered incapable of service. 



iGeo. H. Berns, D. V. S., report, American Veterinary Medical Association, 

 1912, page 238. 



