HYGROMAS—BURSITIS. ou 
used to remove the cicatrices of broken knees is here applicable. The 
synovial membranes should be avoided, solid suture be applied and the 
region immobilized with a plaster splint. 
Horny productions on the anterior face of the knees of cattle must 
be extirpated. Interference is obviously limited to cases where the growth 
is not too large and its surface of implantation not too wide. 
LTl, Hygroma of the Stile. 
Prepatellar hygroma must be distinguished from the femoro-tibio-patellar 
hydrarthrosis. In some cases the diagnosis is difficult, and both may exist 
together. This hygroma deforms the part, but produces no lameness and 
does not incommode the patient. 
Puncture with the trocar, iodine injections, line or point firing, depend- 
ent puncture with the bistoury, and drainage with antiseptic injections are 
the means used when the diagnosis is established.1 
Once open, suppuration may last for a long time. It must be treated 
with strong antiseptic or slightly caustic solutions. 
IV. Hygroma of the Hock— Capped Hock. 
The point of the hock is not infrequently the seat of an cedematous, 
phlegmonous or indurated tumefaction, called by old hippiaters “capped 
hock.’? It starts in inflammation of the subcutaneous serous bursz or of 
the connective layer which unites the skin to the tendon of the deep flexor 
of the phalanges. External blows, kicks, rubbing against the stalls or 
other hard bodies are the causes of this affection. It has sometimes mani- 
fested itself after anasarca, excessive or premature work, slips or violent ef- 
orts (Peuch). It has been observed on both legs without evident cause 
(Furlanetto). Often its growth is so rapid that in one night it may be- 
come as big as a small orange. In the beginning it is often warm and 
painful ; its resolution can then be easily obtained. (Fig. 61.) 
To pad the sides of the stall, and prevent the animal from rubbing its 
hocks, and from kicking by having the hind legs hobbled together, are 
the first precautions to be taken. The local treatment consists in douches 
and astringent applications—vinegar and common chalk, a mixture of 
clay, vinegar and sulphate of iron (Delwart). If irritations are kept up 
1 The size that this form of hygroma assumes is sometimes enormous. We 
had an opportunity to observe one case where it was so large that locomotion was 
entirely impossible. We tapped it four days in succession, removing on the 
first day fifty-two ounces of fluid; on the second, over twenty-six ; on the 
third, six, and on the fourth puncture, four ounces were again removed. In 
this case suppuration was comparatively small on account of the free use of 
tincture of iodine irrigations which were used. (A. Liautard: Lameness of 
Horses, page 153. 1888.) 
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