apeciM injuries of Hones, Joints and Muscles. 445 



forward, 'either by simply lifting it, or by the aid of a rope 

 having a noose round the fetlock, and passing through a 

 coUar on the neck. While the hmb is beiug advanced, a 

 hand should be placed on the bone outside the stifle to 

 press it into position. When reduced keep on a level (not 

 shppery) floor ; apply a shoe with a toe piece projecting 

 an inch in front of the hoof, and curved up ; and finally 

 put a smart bhster on the joint. 



Second Form. A modification of the above is seen in 

 horses and cattle, in which the knee-cap is drawn too high 

 during extreme extension of the stifle, and then pulled 

 outward by the abductor muscles ; its inner lateral liga- 

 ment sHps into the notch above the pulley, over which the 

 bone should play, and the animal remains helpless with 

 the hmb drawn back as in ordinary dislocation. There is 

 a depression in front of the upper part of the stifle, sur- 

 mounted by a swelling which is soft, not hard, as it would 

 be were the current explanation of cramp of the muscles 

 correct. The reduction is by the same method advised for 

 ordinary dislocation, and the after treatment identical. 



DISEASE IN THE STIFLE JOINT. 



If between the knee-cap and its pulley the patient usually 

 drags the toe on the ground, steps short and brings the 

 foot forward with a swinging outward motion. The leg is 

 kept half bent when standing, the knee-cap is felt to move 

 loosely on the pulley, causing pain, and an elastic fluctu- 

 ating swelling is felt beneath it in the intervals between 

 the three descending hgaments. In disease of the inner or 

 outer division of the true joint the animal stands with it in 

 the same position, but in walking it may either be jerked 

 up suddenly, or in the worst cases, this joint and the hock 

 are carried in a stifle extended position and the priucipal 

 movement is in the hip. An elastic swelling may usually 

 be felt beneath the knee-cap but it is less prominent than 

 ill disease of the puUey, and the bone is less mobile and 

 does not cause pain when moved. 



