'1:'\ \ AND HIS DISEASES. 35 



\V :■ • , ' DISLOCATIONS. 



D^^^^^^or luxation of the bones in the lower animals, 

 are very rare, owing to the strength of the joints and their 

 binding ligaments ; however, we occasionally find the patella 

 Qr knee-cap dislocated, when it glides off the outer con- 

 dyle of the femur, and the horse is said to be " stifled." 



' DISLOCATION OF* THE PATELLA — " STIFLED." 



This is most common in colts, from the outer condyle not 

 being fully developed, allowing the patella to glide off and 

 on at every step. 



Causes. — It occurs generally in young animals, and is 

 most common on hilly pasture when the soil is gravelly ; the 

 feet becoming worn and tender, causes him to relax the 

 stifle in walking, when the patella is apt to slide off. It 

 ■ sometimes occurs from external violence, or from interstitial 

 absorption of the condyle. 



Symptoms. — The limb is extended backward, the foot is 

 bent up, and the animal drags the limb as if it was cramped 

 aaid unable to draw it forward. Professor Dick was of 

 opinion that cramp of the muscles of the leg is not unfre- 

 quently mistaken for dislocation of the patella. But cramp 

 is easily known from the suddenness of the attack, from there 

 being no enlargement at the stifle, and from the bending up 

 of the foot. 



Treatment. — It must be returned to its place as soon as 

 possible, which can be easily done in the following way: 

 make one or two assistants pull the foot forward, while you 

 push the stifle back, and at the same time push the patella 

 forward, when it will slip into its place, and the animal will 

 walk off almost as sound as if nothing had happened. If it 

 is followed by lameness or swelling about the joint, rest 



