470 ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 



blacksmith should know how to do it. For fast horses, the limbs must 

 be further protected by means of pads and other appliances to be found 

 at all saddlery establishments. 



IV. Broken Knees. 



This is a common disability of stumbling horses, and of saddle horsea 

 kept for riding, leaping, or hunting. A horse with the scars of broken 

 knees should never be used as a saddle horse, unless it cau be clearly 

 shown that the hurt was done accidentally in leaping upon a foul landing 

 place. 



What to do. — The first thing to do is to find the extent of the injury. 

 It may be that it is only a slight bruise with or without abrasion of the 

 skin. In this case, using the tincture of arnica two or three times a day, 

 and a cold water bandage, if there is heat, should ensure recovery. 



Sometimes, however, there is an ugly, lacerated wound filled with dirt 

 and gravel. In this case the parts must be well washed by repeatedly 

 filling a large sponge with clean, warm water, and squeezing it dry against 

 the limb above the hurt. Never, under any circumstances, put it against 

 the hurt. It only soils the sponge and presses the particles of dirt 

 farther into the wound. If there is a sac below the cut containing dirt 

 it must be carefully probed, and opened from the bottom with a keen, 

 sharp pointed knife. The object is that no grit may remain in the wound 

 to prevent its healing. A seton should be tied so the sac may be emptied 

 of its contents in the process of suppuration. If the granulations become 

 soft and flabby, showing proud flesh, they must be touched with nitrate of 

 silver. In three days after the establishment of suppuration the seton 

 may be withdrawn. The wounded parts must be kept wet with cold 

 arnica water, the proper proportions being one ounce tincture of arnica 

 to each pint of water used. 



Copious suppuration having been fairly established, discontinue the use 

 of the arnica, and use instead the lotion made by dissolving in each 

 ounce of water used a grain of chloride of zinc. Use no bandages. 

 Cleanliness of the parts is necessary. These means should carr}'^ the 

 knee to a favorable issue. 



Sometimes, however, the injury is so severe that the ligaments :nid 

 even the joint is injured. It then becomes a most serious case. In this 

 event the animal must be put into slings, the joint brought together, after 

 being thorougly cleansed as before stated, the parts must be bandaged 

 and astringent washes used to promote the uniting of the parts, while the 

 same general treatment is pursued with the laceration as advised before. 

 In case the injury be so severe as to involve the joint, if a veterinary 



