332 The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



common in heavy cattle ; 2d, distension of the theca of 

 one or more of the four tendons which pass over the front 

 and outer side of the knee ; 3d, and finally, disease inside 

 the knee-joint and distension of its capsule. The first is 

 superficial though often possessed of very thick walls, is 

 generally diffused over the front of the joint, and is little 

 affected by flexion or extension. The distended thecae 

 extend vertically along the Lines of the tendons, reaching 

 above and below the joint and are bound down at in- 

 tervals by transverse bands ; their size is little affected by 

 bending the joint. Distensions of the joint capsule ap- 

 pear in the intervals between the tendons, do not extend 

 beyond the joint except in very extreme cases, and disap- 

 pear in part or entirely when the joint is bent ; in this 

 case the joint is rarely kept fully extended in standing 

 and cannot usually be flexed to make the fetlock touch 

 the elbow. 



Treatment. For Subcutaneous cysts puncture with nozzle 

 of hypodermic syringe, draw off the liquid and compress 

 strongly with wet bandages. If this cannot be done, pass 

 a tape from above downward through the cavity of the 

 sac, and keep in untU resulting suppuration has ceased, 

 when it may be withdrawn from above downward a little 

 at a time. Excess of inflammation may be subdued by 

 fomentations and thick wet bandages. 



The distended tliecae may be punctured with a nozzle of 

 a hypodermic syringe and subjected to pressure, or treated 

 with strong bHsters (biniodide of mercury 2 dr., lard 1 oz.,) 

 repeatedly applied ; or simple pressure will suffice if kept 

 up for some weeks increasing the time daily. Setons 

 would be dangerous. 



For distended joint see below. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE KNEE-JOINT, 



This may be seen in aU stages from that in which the 

 animal starts forward perceptibly at the knee and mani- 

 fests suffering when you try to fully extend it by strong 



