LAMENESS IN THE REGION OF THE KNEE. 51 



the dung fork, and external violence ; in the chronic type, 

 generally overwork. 



Inspection : Acule Form. — Swelling around the entire joint. 

 A wound may be seen and flowing from it synovia, alone, or 

 mixed with pus, the discharge then having a straw-colored 

 appearance. There is excessive lameness, the leg is carried 

 forward stiffly and slowly. 



Palpation. — The swelling is very painful, hot and more or 

 less firm, with a tendency to spread. In septic inflammations, 

 constitutional disturbances, as high fever, etc., are frequent. 



Chronic Form. — Is not accompanied by lameness, unless 

 movement is mechanically interfered with by the distended 

 tendon sheath, extending as much as six to eight inches 

 above and below the joint. As a rule this swelling is seen 

 on the outside of the leg, but at times also on the inside. 

 The superior swelling may attain the size of a cocoa-nut, 

 whereas that on the metacarpus is mostly smaller. 



5.— Distension of Articular and Tendinous 

 Synovial Sacs. 



Acute inflammation of the synovial sacs of joints or 

 synovial sheaths of tendons brings on lameness. When 

 chronically inflamed, they sometimes produce limited motion 

 by mechanically interfering with the working of a joint 

 or tendon, and thus cause lameness. Usually bursal 

 enlargements disappear Avheu the leg is flexed, or when no 

 weight is put upon it, while enlarged tendon sheaths, under 

 those circumstances, become more distinct. Horizontal 

 swellings suggest distended articular sacs ; vertical or oblique 

 swellings indicate distension of the synovial sheath, in which 

 the tendon lies. 



