336 



The symptoms of kuuckling aro easily recognized. Tlio clianges in 

 the direction of the bones vary more or less with the degree of thelesion, 

 sometimes assuming suck a direction that it almost becomes a true dis- 

 location of the pastern. 



The effect of knuckling upon the gait also varies according to the 

 degree of the deformity. As the different degrees of the shortening of 

 the leg affect the motion of the fetlock the lameness may be very slight 

 or quite extreme. Another consequence of this shortening is such a 

 change in the position of the foot that the heels cease to come in con- 

 tact with the ground and assume a greater elevation, and the final result 

 of this is soon witnessed in the development of a clubfoot. 



To whatever cause the knuckling may be ascribed it is always a severe 

 infirmity, and there is but little room for hoping to overcome it unless 

 it be during the very first stages of the trouble, and the hope dwindles to 

 still ssnaller dimensions when it is secondary to other diseases below 

 the fetlock. If it is caused by overworking the animal, the first indica- 

 tion will of course bo rest. The animal must be turned loose and left 

 unemployed and careful attention given to the condition of his feet and 

 to the manner of shoeing, while time is allowed for the tendons to be- 

 come restored to their normal state and the irritation caused by excess- 

 ive stretching has subsided. A shoe with a thick heel will contribute 

 to this. But if no improvement can be obtained and the tendons though 

 retracted have yet been relieved of much of their thickening, the case 

 is not a desperate one and may yet bo benefited by the operation of te- 

 notomy, single or double — an operative expedient which must be com- 

 mitted to the experienced surgron for its performance. 



Sjjyung Icnees. — Though not positively the result of diseases of the ten- 

 dons acting upon the knees, wo venture to consider this deformity in 

 connection wi h that which we have just described. It consists in such 

 an alteration in the direction and articulation of the bones which form 

 the various carpal joints that instead of forming a vertical line from 

 the lower end of the forearm to the cannon bone they are so united that 

 the knee is more or less bent forward, presenting a condition due to the 

 retraction of two of the principal muscles by which the cannon bone is 

 flexed. 



This flexion of tho knee may also be a congenital deformity and have 

 continued from the foaling of the animal. Or, like clubfoot it may be 

 the result of heavy labor which the animal has been compelled to per- 

 form at too early an ago. It may also be due to other diseases existing 

 iu parts below the knee joint. 



This change of direction largely influences tho movement of the an- 

 imal by detracting from its firmness and practically weakeaing the en- 

 tire frame, even to tho extent of rendering him insecure on his feet, and 

 liable to fall. This condition of weakness is sometimes so pronounced 

 that he is exposed to fall even when standing at rest and unmolested, 

 the knees being unable even to bear tho portion of tho mere weight of 



