482 BROKEN KNEES. 



Examination of the Patient. — The first thing which a 

 veterinary surgeon should do, when called to a case of Broken 

 Knees, is to examine the feet of the animal. Is there a stone 

 embedded between the inner side of the frog and the inner rim 

 of the shoe ? Or has a nail penetrated the frog, or the sole of 

 the foot ? Or does the shoe fit the foot improperly, and lame 

 the animal in consequence ? Is the patient afiected with corns ? 

 These, and similar matters, are to be determined forthwith. 



I was lately called to a case of Broken Knees, and I found, 

 in the right fore-foot of the patient, a small piece of slate firmly 

 wedged between the outer side of the frog and the sole of the 

 foot : it had been there several days, during which time the 

 animal had suffered severely from its presence. In every case, 

 then, of Broken Knees, remove the shoes and carefully examine 

 the feet. 



The next thing to do is to determine the condition of the 

 wound. Is the joint opened, and are the bones exposed ? Or is 

 the tendon of the extensor metacarpi muscle laid bare ? In 

 either case a discharge of synovia will be present. To ascertain 

 precisely the extent of the injury, lift the foot from the ground, 

 and flex the knee to its utmost extent, — when, if the joint is 

 opened, the bones will be brought fairly into view, and the 

 chances of recovery may be calculated accordingly. 



Washing the Knees. — Having examined the knees, and 

 satisfied himself of the extent of the injuries, the third requisite 

 for the veterinary surgeon to do is to cleanse the wounds 

 thoroughly. This he can best perform with water, and the aid 

 of a large syringe similar to the one shown by Fig. 16, p. 157. 

 Fill the instrument vdth water repeatedly, and send its con- 

 tents each time, with force, upon the torn and lacerated 

 structures ; after which, clip away all the ragged and thready 



