CAPPED KNEE 361 



some of the causes referred to above. When this is so, the enlargement 

 usually presents the appearance and character of a solid organized tumour, 

 resulting from the repeated irritation to which it has been exposed. When it 

 originates suddenly from a severe blow, it may assume the form of a cyst 

 and contain a quantity of yellow or blood-stained fluid, or should the 

 injury be sufficiently severe to excite acute inflammation in the skin and 

 underlying tissue an abscess may result. 



Symptoms. From what has been said, it will be understood that the 

 swelling constituting " capped knee " is a disease of the skin and sub- 

 cutaneous tissue, and has no reference whatever to another form of enlarge- 

 ment in front of the joint resulting from a distension of the sheath of the 

 extensor tendon of the metacarpus. In the disease in question the swelling 

 when of slow growth is hard and callous; when of more rapid formation 

 it assumes the form of a fluctuating swelling which may or may not be 

 attended with pain. In all cases where an abscess develops, the part is hot 

 and painful, and in a less degree pain is manifested for a while where the 

 tissues become infiltrated with blood-stained fluid only. The latter con- 

 dition may assume a chronic form and continue long after all soreness has 

 subsided. 



Treatment.^- Where indications of chronic enlargement of the knee 

 appear as a result of bruising in the act of lying down, the horse should 

 be placed in a loose-box and be provided with a thick bed of peat -moss. 

 This alone in such cases is sufficient to put an end to the trouble. Where, 

 however, the growth has become considerable and undergone organization, 

 its complete removal is impossible save by a surgical operation. Some 

 reduction, however, may be effected in it by a course of blistering, and its 

 further development will be prevented by protecting the animal from a 

 repetition of the injury that brought it on. 



If the enlargement is found to contain a watery fluid, the contents must 

 be drawn off by the aspirator and a little tincture of iodine injected into 

 the sac. This having been done, a bandage should be tightly bound round 

 the knee in order to prevent its refilling, and at the same time to induce 

 the disconnected skin to unite again to the parts beneath. For this 

 purpose the horse should be kept tied to the rack or placed in slings 

 and prevented from lying down. 



Where the swelling is hot and painful, and there is reason to suspect 

 the existence of an abscess, hot fomentations should be applied to the part, 

 and so soon as any indications of " pointing " appear it should be freely 

 opened with the knife and free vent given to the contained " matter ". 

 The sac should then be well syringed out with carbolic solution or some 

 equally efficient disinfectant, and the wound treated on the antiseptic 



