426 The jcarmers veterinary Adviser. 



face, allow no ragged nail clinches to project, and re-ad- 

 just the shoe sufficiently often (every three weeks). Or a 

 boot may be worn extending from the fetlock to the knee 

 and with a rim at its upper part to warn the animal when 

 his foot approaches this point. 



Wounds in Feont of the Knees. Broken Knees. Usu- 

 ally sustained in falling, but it may be by striking against 

 a manger or other hard object. They are of aU degrees 

 of severity : 1st, simple loss of hair and slight abrasion of 

 the scarfskin ; 2d, a severe bruise of the skin without 

 laceration; 3d, a wound extending no deeper than the 

 skin ; 4th, a wound laying bare the tendons and opening 

 their sheaths ; 5th, a wound laying open the joint and ex- 

 posing the bones with or without laceration of the tendons ; 

 and 6th, when the joint is opened and the small bones of 

 the knee broken. 



Treatment. 1st, With simple abrasion no treatment is 

 needed ; 2d, if much bruised tie short to a high rack to 

 prevent lying down and bandage lightly, using a mild 

 astringent lotion (sugar of lead \ oz., carbolic acid 60 

 drops, water 2 qts.) ; 3d, in all cases in which the wound 

 extends through the skin it is desirable to bend the knee 

 to the position occupied when wounded so that the deep 

 woimds may correspond with the superficial, and wash off 

 with a stream of tepid water or soft clean sponge all dirt 

 or foreign bodies, but never probe nor run any risk of 

 opening cavities which have not been injured. Any shreds 

 of tissue which are absolutely dead should be cut off, but 

 never remove any skin, however contused, as it will all h^^ 

 wanted. Then cutting the hair from the flaps of the 

 wound above and below bring them together by straps of 

 plaster or tow dipped in shellac paste, leaving sufficient 

 intervals for the escape of matter. If the wound inflames 

 and swells, give a purgative and dress with the lotion ad- 

 vised for bruised knee. In aU severe cases it is desirable 

 to sling the patient after the first few days to obviate any 

 attempt to lie down, which would seriously protract the 



