46 THE CANADIAN HOESE 



called, consists of a sprain of the round ligament of the 

 femur, whicli holds the ball into the so6ket. Sometimes it 

 is almost torn asunder ; but so strong is this articulation, 

 that dislocation cannot occur, except as an accompaniment 

 of fracture. 



Causes. — Severe wrenching, by slipping or falling on ice 

 or wet planks, is more likely to cause it than fair though 

 severe exertion. 



Symptoms. — We seldom find any external swelling,'unless- 

 it is very severe, and the muscles surrounding the joint are 

 involved ; when by making him stand square on his hind- 

 legs, and standing directly behind him, and comparing one 

 hip with the other, any enlargement can be easily detected. 

 Sometimes we have heat and tenderness, but ia most cases 

 these are absent. One characteristic symptom is stepping 

 short, the lame leg is not brought as far forward as the other 

 one, and he dro|)s on that quarter. The tendon of the 

 gluteus maximus, as it passes over the trochanter, is fre- 

 quently the seat of lameness ; in this case we have swelhng, 

 heat, and pain on pressurV with short stepping. 



Treatment. — Rest, fomentations, cooling lotions, &c., until 

 the inflammation is subdued, followed by repeated blisters, 

 which must be freely used, as the disease is deep-seated. 



Many cases are incurable, as the ligament sometimes be- 

 comes ossified ; or we may have osseous deposits in and 

 around the joint. 



STIFLE-JOINT LAMENESS. 



Besides dislocation of the patella or knee-cap, from lacer- 

 ation or extension of the lateral ligaments, we frequently 

 find the stifle-joint itself diseased. The condyles may be 

 diseased, or the semilunar cartilages may be displaced. 

 Sometimes the tendinous origin of the flexor metatarsi-' 



