94 WOUNDS AND BRUISES. 



the bandage is unequally distributed, the part will probably become 

 hot and swollen, in which case the bandage should be at once 

 removed, and the wound rendered healthy in the manner already 

 described. The bandage should not be re-applied, until the swel- 

 ling has subsided. A slight swelling of the part would not warrant 

 the removal of the bandage. 



Maintaining a constant flow of cold water on the wound generally 

 gives excellent results by closing the wound in a healthy manner 

 without any other treatment, beyond keeping the part at rest. As 

 soon as the discharge of synovia has ceased, the cold water treat- 

 ment can be stopped and tannoform or iodoform applied. 



A rough and ready way of treating an open joint, which has often 

 a good effect, is to put over it a thick covering of quicklime. 



Veterinary surgeons, as a rule, obtain excellent results in cases of 

 open joints, by applying a smart biniodide of mercury ointment 

 blister (1 to 8 of lard), after having rendered the part aseptic 

 (p. 70) and dusting the orifice over with iodoform, boracic acid, 

 or unslaked lime. The blister, besides keeping the part at 

 rest, helps to close the orifice, and probably has an antiseptic action 

 on the wound. 



Broken Knees 



is the term applied to any wound inflicted on a horse's knee or 

 knees by falling, or by hitting himself. 



In examining a horse to see if he has been " down," we should, 

 in doubtful cases, closely view the knee in profile, so as to detect 

 any roughness of the hair or swelling on the front of the joint, by 

 which we may perceive that the horse has broken his knees on some 

 former occasion ; for unless the edges of a wound unite with a degree 

 of accuracy we cannot expect to find after this accident, the hair 

 will not lie smooth and level, and a severe blow will cause the part 

 to be more or less " capped." The skin should be examined for the 

 scars of former wounds. 



The knee of the horse (Fi^. 8, p. 35), which corresponds to the human wrist, 

 is coni])()sed of tM'o rows of bones, three in each row. These bones form 

 three distinct joints, namely, one between the radius (bone of the fore 

 arm) and the upper row ; a second between the upper and lower roAV, 

 which forms a third joint with the heads of the cannon and splint bones. 

 There is most motion in the upper joint, and least in the lower one ; hence 

 in a case of broken knees, the injury usually is inflicted on the upper 

 joint, .'eldom on the middle, and very rarely on the lower joint. Besides the 

 six bones I have mentioned, there is a seventh one, the trapezium, placed at 

 the back of the upper row of bones to serve as a lever-like attachment for the 

 tendons of the muscles which bend the knee. Occasionally, we meet with 

 an eighth and very small bone — the pisiform — at the back of the lower row. 



In well-bred horses, the trapezium is often very prominent. This con- 

 formation, which is a desirable " point," may give the animal, to inex- 

 perienced eyes, a fake appearance of being " tied in below the knee." 



