' STIFLE-JOINT LAMENESS. 567 



Causes. — It occurs generally in young animals, and is most com- 

 mon on hilly pasture where the soil is gravelly ; the feet becoming 

 worn and tender, causes him to relax the stifle in walking, when the 

 patella is apt to slide off. It sometimes occurs from external vio- 

 lence 1 , or from interstitial absorption of the condyle. 



Symptoms. — The limb is extended backward, the foot is bent up, 

 and the animal drags the limb as if it were cramped and he was unable 

 to draw it forward. Cramp of the muscles of the legs is not unfre- 

 quently mistaken for dislocation of the patella. , But cramp is easily 

 known from the suddenness of the attack, from there being no enlarge- 

 ment of the stifle, and from the bending 

 up of the foot. 



Treatment.— -It must be returned to its 

 place as soon as possible, which Can be 

 easily done in the following way : Make 

 one or two assistants pitll the foot for- 

 ward, while you push the stifle back, and 

 at the same time push the patella for- 

 ward, when it will" slip into its place, and 



the animal will walk off almost as sound 

 Fig. 876. — The Horse as he Usu- ., ... , , , , „.,. r , 



... . „.._ . as if nothing had happened. If it is fol- 



ally Appears when Stifled. ■ , " 



lowed by lameness or swelling about the 



joint, rest must be given, and to prevent its recurrence, the stifle 



may be blistered. 



A very good plan with colts, in which it frequently occurs, 

 is to remove the patient to a loose box, with a level, even floor ; 

 and to put a shoe on, with a tip projecting in front about two or 

 three inches, slightly turned up, which will keep the muscles at-. 

 tached to it on the stretch, and so prevent its slipping out again. 

 This may be worn for one or two months, as required. 



A good deal of a secret in relieving a horse when stifled,'is to 

 take short hold of the bridle or halter, so as to throw the head up 

 with a jerking motion, and quickly force the horse back upon his 

 heels. It is rarely the peculiar exertion will not- bring the patella 

 back into place ; when, by walking the horse back and forth a little, 

 he will be found all right. 



Stifle-joint Lameness. 



Besides dislocation of the patella, or knee-cap, from laceration 

 or extension of the lateral ligaments, we frequently find the stifle 

 joint itself diseased. The condyles may be diseased, or the semi- 

 lunar cartilages may be displaced. Sometimes the tendinous origin 



