BROKEN KNEES. 485 



bending of the knee, if allowed before tlie broken tissues are 

 repaired, wdll aid materially in preventing a proper cure : the 

 consequence of the bending will be — supposing the case to 

 terminate in the most favourable manner possible under the 

 circumstances — the healing process will proceed more slowly ; 

 synovia will firmly clot within the joint, and when clotted will 

 act as a foreign body, and irritate both the synovial membrane 

 of the joint and the cartilages of the bones ; new growth of 

 substance will gradually extend over the external opening of 

 the wound, and close up the coagulated synovia ; the structures 

 of the knee, in consequence, will take on a slow form of inflam- 

 mation ; and in the end the joint will become stiff, and the 

 patient ever after rendered useless except for slow work, or (if 

 a mare) for breeding purposes. 



To prevent these consequences, secure the limb as follows : 

 Bandage the limb from above the knee down to the fetlock 

 joint. Between the bandage and the hair, and on each side, 

 place lint in close contact with the outer and inner sides of the 

 limb, and close up to the knee fix two pieces of sponge (one 

 piece to each side), of moderate thickness, and about four inches 

 in length: then take a wood splint — seventeen or eighteen 

 inches in length, 3-16ths of an inch in thickness, from three to 

 four inches wide — convex upon one side, and concave upon the 

 other ; and within two inches of each end holes should be cut 

 through the splint (one hole at each end), 3-8ths of an inch 

 wide and one inch in length, the long way of the openings to 

 be parallel with the long direction of the splint. Through the 

 openings of the splint pass two straps, having buckles attached 

 to them ; then place the concave side of the splint against the 

 back of the knee — the middle of the splint to be a little below 

 the knee joint ; pack soft wet sponges between the back of the 

 knee and the splint, so as to cause the latter to fit close and 



