236 STIFLE LAMENESS. 



If washes are applied at all in the treatment of this 

 lameness, they should be as cold as they can be pro- 

 cured, and frequently repeated ; but it will generally 

 be the best practice to have immediate recourse to 

 stimulants. Rest is absolutely necessary, and, should 

 the lameness long continue, a charge should be placed 

 on the part ; the horse being housed to prevent the 

 annoyance of flies, and liberally fed. 



STIFLE LAMENESS. 



Than the round bone there is much oftener lame- 

 ness in the stifle, and there are few places where the 

 actual cause of lameness is so deceptive, or so little 

 understood. There is seldom sprain of the joint; but 

 frequently dislocation of the patella. The horse is 

 found standing with his hind leg thrust backwards as 

 far as possible ; resting upon the fetlock, the pastern 

 being perfectly bent and the limb fixed. The ani- 

 mal is evidently in great pain ; perspiring profusely 

 and heaving sadly at the flanks. 



The case, however, is easily treated. Some persons 

 proceed in a very summary way: they give the horse 

 a lash or two with a whip, and by his violent effort to 

 get away from the punishment, the limb sometimes is 

 flexed, when the bone which answers to the knee-pan 

 in man returns into its place. This, probably, would 

 not succeed in many cases, for there is some danger 

 attending so rude an operation ; the ligaments of the 

 patella may be sprained, or even ruptured, by the 

 sudden and violent action of the muscles. 



The dislocation can be reduced without much trouble 

 or any danger. It always takes place outwardly. An 



