Special Injuries of Bones Joints and Muscles. 425 



pressure on its anterior surface, to the most violent and 

 destructive inflammation with extensive exudation of lymph 

 and even the formation of abscess. It tends to leave the 

 puffy swellings of its capsule referred to under the preced- 

 ing heading, or distinct hard bony enlargements on the 

 anterior surface of the joint. The animal stands sqnarelj 

 upon his feet with no inclination to raise the heel, and iu 

 action carries the knee-joint comparatively unbent, takes 

 a fairly long step and comes down with greatest force on 

 the heels so as to wear the shoe at this point. A rider 

 has a pecuhar sensation of the chest sinking under him. 

 The lameness increases with exercise, especially on hard 

 surfaces. 



Treatment. Eest, without shoes ; subdue inflammation 

 by soothing apphcations, after which blister the part. If 

 the animal persists in using it too freely, apply spHnts and 

 bandages to fix the joint, and place in slings. 



WOUNDS OF THE KNEE. 



Dislocation of the knee-joint with laceration of the 

 lateral ligaments occurs, and though if put in splints and 

 slings the patients will sometimes recover with a stiff knee, 

 the result is a very undesirable one. 



Beuise op the Innee Side op the Knee. Speedy Cut. 

 This usually results from a blow with the opposite foot, in 

 horses with high action, in those with narrow chests, or, 

 above all, in horses driven in the snow-path. It is mani- 

 fested by an inflammatory swelling on the prominence of 

 bone inside the joint, resulting in a permanent scar, a 

 serous sac or an abscess. Its early or inflammatory stage 

 may be treated by lotions of cold water or astringent 

 liquids, kept constantly appKed; the serous effusion by 

 pressure or by draAving off the liquid through a fine tube, 

 and then bandaging, and abscess by a free incision with a 

 knife or lancet. 



To prevent keep the foot rather bare inside, with the 

 shoe slightly beveled from its wearing to its bearing sur- 



