286 DISEASES OF THE BONES AND ARTICULATIONS. 



moved laterally. If we take hold of the knee and flex or extend 

 it, the animal evinces great pain. The leg must be bent backward 

 and straightened as much as possible, then by means of manipula- 

 tion of the fingers the patella can be made to slip into position 

 This is very easily performed, and the animal walks away as if 

 nothing has occurred. This dislocation, however, may recur when 

 the animal jumps any distance. When the disease becomes chronic 

 and dislocation occurs often, the animal runs on three legs, or 

 walks lame on the affected leg. The stifle-joint is uneven, thick, 

 and the patella can be dislocated, or put into position simply by 

 pressure of the fingers. If the dislocation affects both legs, these are 

 kept in a flexed position, the animal making peculiar jumping move- 

 ments, using both legs at the same time when he attempts to walk. 

 If he lies down, the hind legs are extended backward and crossed. 

 The prognosis is favorable in new cases, but unfavorable in old ones. 



Treataient. The tarsus must be extended in order to overcome 

 the tension in the straight ligaments and extensors, and the patella 

 may be easily shoved into position. If the animal is then kept 

 quiet for several days, as a rule, no after-treatment is required. 

 If the dislocation of the patella is old, treatment is useless. 



Stockfleth has used a dressing in this disease which he describes 

 as follows : 



He attached a broad linen bandage around the tibia, and fastened 

 a wide girth around the abdomen, and a breast-piece to prevent it 

 from slipping backward. The bandage was then fastened to the 

 tibia, close to the girth around the abdomen. The affected leg was 

 then pulled up close to the abdomen, so that the animal must stand 

 on three legs. The dressing remained on for twenty days, and 

 when it was removed the animal was eutirely cured. In another 

 case he had a double-sized dislocation of the knee. After returning 

 the patellae to their position, the knee- and ankle-joint were covered 

 with thick wadding, and a capsule of gutta-percha, which had i)re- 

 viously been soaked in hot water, was applied to each leg, sur- 

 rounding the leg from the knee to the toes. In order to prevent 

 bending of the gutta-percha before it was sufficiently hardened, a 

 wooden support was fastened to the outside. The dog, which had 

 formerly crept upon its hind legs, walked upright as if on stilts. 

 The dressing was left on the animal for two weeks, and on removal 

 of the dressing the dislocation did not recur. 



