HVGROMAS—BURSITIS. 268 
LT. Hygroma of the Knee. 
This hygroma that Percivall calls « capped knee,” is not rare in horses. 
It is observed principally in those that rise “cow-fashion,” and on those 
that have fallen on their knees without division of the skin. It is frequent 
in cattle. Its frequency depends on the way in which animals lie down 
and rise. Some remain a certain time on their knees; the pressure and 
rubbing on that region wear the hair, irritate the 
skin, lacerate the connective tissue or give rise to 
a serous exudation. Serres condemned the bad 
condition of many barn-floors in southern France, 
and also the habit of having no bedding except 
for the hind quarters. 
In horses, recent precarpal hygroma is generally 
painless, diffuse, spread over the anterior face of the 
knee (Fig. 58) and evenly fluctuating. Whatever 
its size may be those characteristics are sufficient 
to distinguish it clearly from the tumors formed by 
the dropsy of the tendinous or articular synovial sacs 
of that region. In time the walls thicken and _ be- 
come indurated here and there; in its cavity float- 
ing bodies (‘‘riziform’’) can be detected; some- 
times inflammation occurs and purulent transforma- 
tion follows. In cattle, the growth may reach con- 
siderable dimensions (Fig. 59). Sometimes the 
skin is excoriated more or less deeply; not un- 
commonly is it indurated, partly ossified and covered 
with a thick horny production (Fig. 60). ; We ch Tiyetinia 
If the build of the barns is defective let it be fhe Knee. 
remedied. When the tumor is recent and small, 
irritating frictions (turpentine and ammonia mixed, tincture of canthar- 
ides, camphorated alcohol) or blisters are recommended. These some- 
times succeed when the sero-bloody collection of the connective tissue is 
small; when it is abundant they fail. Puncture with the trocar is in- 
sufficient ; it must be completed with iodine injections. Moderate press- 
ure with the dressing or the elastic band assists in the recovery. 
Freely open the pouch on its dependent side, remove the fibrinous 
clots and rice-formed bodies that may be there, place a drain, and twice 
a day inject carbolic-acid water or weak tincture of iodine: such treat- 
ment will give the best results. 
The seton run vertically is used by many; the cavity closes by granu- 
lation, A tent of flax or an india-rubber drainage-tube in place, an- 
