DISLOCATIONS. 47 



reduction, on account of the shape and nature of the joint. Dislocation of the 

 stifle-joint is not very common, it being very strongly guarded by ligaments, and 

 broad also in the surface of the bones of which it is composed. The hip-joint is 

 very often the seat of dislocation, and is one of the most intractable of all to manage. 

 The socket projects in a prominent manner from the body of the pelvis, and when 

 the head of the thigh bone is thrown out of its cup in sinks at once deeply by the 

 side of it, and can scarcely be drawn out of its bed by any force which can be 

 applied. In the anterior extremity, the knee is the chief seat of this kind of 

 accident, and it is dislocated quite as frequently as the hip, but its reduction is ten 

 times as easy, because both bones can easily be grasped, and extension being made, 

 they are speedily brought into a proper relative position. But though they are 

 readily reduced, they are as easily thrown out again ; and, therefore, great care is 

 required to prevent this unhappy result. The elbow and the point of the shoulder 

 are seldom put out, because these joints are so securely guarded that the bones of 

 which they are composed are more inclined to break than to leave their sockets. 

 In both the hind and fore-legs the toes are often put out ; and, besides this accident, 

 the tendons are apt to give way, causing the accident which is called " the letting 

 down of the toes." 



The TREATMENT of all dislocations consists in putting the displaced bone back 

 again into its socket as speedily as possible, for if allowed to remain long out of its 

 proper situation it contracts fresh adhesions, and can scarcely be drawn away from 

 them by any practicable force. The dislocated knee is reduced simply by pulling 

 steadily the two bones away from one another ; an assistant seizing the arm, and 

 the operator making extension by laying hold of the foot and pastern. After it 

 is reduced, a piece of list should be crossed in the form of a figure of eight behind 

 the joint, so as to prevent it from being straightened, and thus again displaced; 

 and this position must be maintained for some time, in order that the torn ligaments 

 may have time to unite. In the dislocated hip, unless very recently done, chloro- 

 form should be used, because the muscles of that joint are very powerful and it 

 will require great force to overcome their action without its assistance. The dog 

 is first placed on a table, with a firm cushion under it ; chloroform is then 

 administered, by placing a sponge dipped in it in the end of a leather muzzle, such 

 as is used for the greyhound. The holes at the side should be stopped, by pasting 

 strong paper over them, so as to make a complete cone, one end of which is 

 adapted to the jaws, and the other is closed by the sponge ; so that the dog, when 

 it is put on, can only breathe through the sponge. After a short time he snores, 

 and breathes heavily, and then the sponge may be withdrawn for a time, and the 

 attempt made to lift the bone into its socket. I have, however, lately failed, 

 even with the aid of this agent, in reducing a hip dislocated only for about 

 ten days ; and I am not aware of any case of more than a few hours' duration 

 where a hip has been replaced. Nevertheless, in a valuable dog, such as that in 

 which I made the attempt, which was a highly-prized puppy, presented to me, 

 and of a very scarce breed, the attempt is worth making, especially as it occasions 

 no pain. 



