92 THE SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE HORSE 



Bent knees are frequently due to adhesions to and thickening of the 

 flexors of the metacarpus. Rheumatic affections of the muscles of the 

 forearm may also be a cause. Occasionally it is the result of carpitis 

 (inflammation of the knee joint), whilst at other times it follows as a com- 

 plication, injuries to the front or back of the knee, such as knee thoro- 

 pin, or synovitis of the carpal sheath behind, or some simple injury or 

 exostosis at the front of the joint. 



The treatment recommended by Macqueen is to blister the back of 

 the limb from the elbow to below the coronet, applying friction chiefly 

 over the forearm, slightly at the back of the knee, and slightly to the 

 hollow of the pastern. After seven to ten days, when the activity of this 

 blister is expended, the front of the limb is blistered. The above 

 process is repeated two or three times, when in uncomplicated cases the 

 knee becomes straightened, and remains so for some months. 



There is, however, no form of treatment which will effect a permanent 

 cure. 



Tenotomy of the tendons of the flexor metacarpi externus and 

 flexor metacarpi medius muscles is also adopted as a method of treating 

 this affection. (See Chapter on Tendons.) 



CONTUSED KNEE, BUMPED OR CAPPED KNEE, 

 HYGROMA OF KNEE 



These are the names which are variously given to an injury to the 

 front of the knee causing a large rounded swelling to make its appear- 

 ance. The swelling is usually due to the accumulation of an effusion 

 beneath the skin and between it and the annular band of fascia, though 

 in very severe cases we find it accumulates also between the annular band 

 and the capsular or anterior common ligament. The affection is the 

 result of frequent bruising of the front of the joint, and is often due to 

 the animal striking the part against the manger when "pawing" in the 

 stable. 



