166 OBSERVATIONS ON INJURIES, ETC., AMONG ARMY HORSES. 
considered unfit for further service, was destroyed. A post- 
mortem examination showed that a fracture, of a comminuted 
character, had taken place at the outer third of the patella. 
Partial union had resulted, but the new formation was so 
uneven as to render it almost impossible for the bone to play 
over the femoral trochlea. It may perhaps be a little diffi- 
cult to reconcile the fact that a comminuted fracture of the 
patella coexisted with an uninjured capsular ligament, but 
such appears to have been the case, as proved by a careful 
examination of the wound, by the nature of the discharge, 
and perhaps by the manner in which the animal performed 
the subsequent marches ; for had the joint been at all ex- 
posed to the influence of the air, we imagine a fatal result 
would have closed the case before we reached our destination. 
Not only was the integrity of the joint destroyed by the 
altered condition of the articulatory surface of the patella, 
and its abnormal influence on the trochlea of the femur, but 
its action was reduced and confined by the gradual transfor- 
mation of fibro-ligamentous tissue into bone around its an- 
terior and outer aspects. The cavity of the joint contained 
fibrinous deposits — products of inflammation. 
Fractures of the patella are, undoubtedly, rare, and judging 
from the anatomy of the structures entering into the forma- 
tion of so complex a joint, and considering the temperaments 
of our patients, and the limited power we have in restraining 
them, it must be seen that treatment will prove unsatisfac- 
tory, and that the stifle joint cannot be restored to its pris- 
tine condition. 
No. 3 was a comminuted fracture of the left, or innomi- 
nata, which occurred whilst the horse was being groomed, at 
evening stables. The case is noticed under the heading 
“ Heel-ropes,” as “ Horse No. 1.” 
The cotyloid cavity was smashed into eight irregular frag- 
ments, and the ilium, the ischium, and pelvis were exten- 
sively broken in other parts. The head of the femur, the 
ligamentum teres, the cotyloid, transverse and pubio-femoral 
ligaments were scarcely injured, but the capsular ligament, 
muscular and other soft tissues were much ruptured. 
(To be continued .) 
