DISEASES OP ARTICULATIONS 209 



cartilage and endowed witli a capsular ligament, may be 

 formed. Tlie lacerated and displaced connective tissue around 

 the head of the femur, as well as the injured muscles, form 

 adhesions holding the dislocated bone firmly in place. 



Outline the treatment of dislocations. 



Provided such is possible, reduction and retention of the 

 dislocated parts are primary essentials. In luxation not 

 accompanied with serious lesions of the constituents of the 

 joint or surrounding tissues, the rent in the capsular ligament 

 soon heals, while the hemorrhage into the joint and surround- 

 ing tissues is absorbed. In the larger animals, such as the 

 horse or cow, reduction is very difficult and retention often 

 impossible ; in the smaller animals — as the dog, for instance — 

 the dislocation can be reduced more readily, but the restless- 

 ness of the patient renders retention of the reduced articular 

 «nds very difficult or impossible. In old luxations of the hip 

 of the dog no attempts at reduction are made ; it is best to 

 ■await the formation of a new socket by nature's efforts at 

 repair. Dislocation of the inferior maxilla of the dog and 

 luxation of the patella of the horse are easily reduced. For a 

 cure of habitual luxation of the patella, section of the internal 

 patellar ligament has been advocated more recently. I have 

 ■operated on three horses, but the time which has elapsed since 

 the operation is too limited to permit of conscientious criti- 

 cism. 



Distortion (Sprain). 



What is a distortion P 



A temporary displacement of two articular surfaces from 

 •each other, followed by an immediate return to place and by 

 a partial or complete laceration of the retaining ligaments. 



