DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE 221 



two ounces, sulphate of iron four ounces; mix and 

 divide into twenty-four doses, and give one morn- 

 ing and night in bran mash. I have had a number 

 of cases of this form of lameness and all have got- 

 ten well by the use of the cantharides blister and 

 the nerve tonics. 



Stifle Joint Lameness.— Stifle joint lameness is 

 characterized by the inability of the animal to 

 bring its leg forward, that is when the injury is 

 severe and in the neighborhood of the patella, 

 "knee cap." This can be easily understood. To 

 bring the leg forward or backward the stifle bone 

 moves on a pulley-like surface at the lower end 

 and in front of the thigh bone, and an injury to this 

 part or dislocation makes it impossible for the 

 animal to use this joint. It may be standing on its 

 foot, but more often with the leg a little backward, 

 and if made to move forward will do so on the 

 three legs, while the injured one will be held out 

 straight behind. Some horses will, by the aid of 

 the muscles of the hip and thigh, bring the leg 

 forward in a circular motion, keeping the stifle 

 joint straight. If the animal can stand with its 

 foot forward there will be no use looking for the 

 lameness in this joint. I mention this because I 

 have found so many horsemen locating the lame- 

 ness of the hock, foot, and other parts of the limb, 

 in this joint. The stifle joint is liable to injury 

 from a horse kicking its neighbor in the stall, 

 especially in cases when the partition between 

 them is too short. I have seen many valuable 

 horses destroyed in this way. Some horses when 



